In the News
Alabama Tornadoes
Hands On Birmingham, The Volunteer Center of Morgan County (Decatur, Ala.), Hands On River Region (Montgomery, Ala.) and HandsOn South Alabama are helping set up Volunteer Reception Centers to manage spontaneous unaffiliated volunteers.
Since the tornadoes swept through Alabama in April, more than 30,000 volunteers have been registered and more than 15,000 have been activated or placed through our HandsOn Action Center either virtually or via the Volunteer Reception Centers they are managing and supporting.
While we are continuing to assess the most immediate needs with all these disasters you can get engaged in the response in the following ways:
Register to Volunteer or Donate Resources:
Register your interest to volunteer, donate or receive more information related to the Alabama tornadoes volunteer response at Hands On Birmingham or the Volunteer Center of Morgan County, Ala.
Visit United Way of St. Louis to volunteer, donate or receive more information related to the Missouri tornado and flooding volunteer response.
HANDSON NETWORK RECEIVES FUNDING FROM UPS TO SUPPORT GULF REGION, MOBILIZE SERVICE LEADERS AND EXPAND INTERNATIONALLY
The UPS Foundation Partners with HandsOn Network to Build Capacity
HandsOn Network announced on April 21 that it is activating two grants from The UPS Foundation designed to support its HandsOn Action Centers in areas directly impacted by the Gulf oil spill and build its capacity in the U.S. and internationally.
"UPS is a long-time partner of HandsOn Network, providing support that impacts both the quality and quantity of volunteer activation to address pressing community needs,” said Amy Smith, president, HandsOn Network. “Recent disaster events, including the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, bring to the forefront the critical need for increased capacity at our 250 HandsOn Action Centers around the world in managing volunteer opportunities."
Specifically, it will provide funding for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Programs, Disaster Preparedness Training for nonprofits and volunteers and increase the amount of volunteer opportunities to support oil spill recovery. Funds will also help increase capacity in communities not currently served by a HandsOn Action Center to provide tools, technical support, resources and training to increase community resiliency.
"These grants will support the region’s long-term recovery from the oil spill. Our affiliates will be able to develop projects and programs that address the most pressing needs in local communities and with communities that are most vulnerable to future disasters," said Smith. "Ultimately, the goal of these funds is to increase local community recovery efforts through the effective use of volunteers while keeping national attention on the gulf oil spill."
Grantees for the 2011 UPS Foundation Gulf Oil Spill Funding include:
HandsOn Mississippi
HandsOn New Orleans
HandsOn South Alabama
United Way of South Mississippi
Volunteer Manatee
"UPS strongly believes in the power of volunteers to make significant change in our communities," said Ken Sternad, president, The UPS Foundation. "Our support will help ensure the Hands On Network has the infrastructure to deliver consistent, high-impact volunteer service experiences."
About The UPS Foundation
Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation, which celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2011, is responsible for facilitating employee involvement in the local, national and global communities. In 2010, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $95 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/foundation. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.
Report oiled or injured wildlife: 1-866-557-1401
Report spill related damage: 1-800-440-0858
Report oil on land: 1-866-448-5816
Submit your vessel as a vessel of opportunity skimming system: 1-281-366-5511
Submit alternative response technology, services or products: 1-281-366-5511
EPA’s environmental monitoring activities
Access to Disaster Assistance and Resources
State specific volunteer opportunities:
HandsOn Nashville Announces Flood Relief Volunteer Impact Numbers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As the city prepares to mark the first anniversary of the historic May 2010 flood, Hands On Nashville (HON) today announced that 25,870 HON-managed volunteers have donated 332,756 hours to flood relief service since that time. The economic impact of these volunteers’ human capital is valued at $7 million by Independent Sector research.
In addition, the agency has referred another 125,000 volunteers to flood-related service opportunities managed by other agencies.
Since May 2010, HON has been regularly releasing Volunteer Report Cards to update community members on the number of volunteers and hours donated, as well as the economic value of this service to flood-relief and rebuilding efforts. Today’s report card provides the latest figures as the city prepares to mark the flood’s one-year anniversary.
"I would never have anticipated the amount of volunteerism I’ve seen after the flood and how much it means to those in need," said Brian Williams, executive director of Hands On Nashville. "Hands On Nashville will continue this work in the months ahead due to the amazing contributions of our dedicated volunteers and our rebuilding partners."
HON is continuing to focus on home-restoration projects as part of its ongoing flood-relief work. Through a partnership that includes Hands On Nashville, The River Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee established by Garth Brooks, Westminster Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, West Nashville Flood Recovery Network and Southeast Nashville Recovery, volunteers will completed projects in 170 flood-impacted homes by September 1.
While a core of trained volunteers and faith-based volunteers visiting from out of town will be spearheading these rebuilding projects, HON officials said they need more volunteers than ever to support the critical work being carried out by service agencies in 25 issue areas – from hunger and homelessness to animal welfare and environmental protection. HON is also supporting waterway cleanup efforts as requested by nonprofit partners who specialize in this work, as well as other flood-related projects.
There are more than 150 volunteer projects available on HON’s online Project Calendar in May alone. They support the missions of diverse service agencies. Community members are encouraged to visit www.hon.org and register as a volunteer today.
In 2010, Hands On Nashville mobilized 199,189 volunteers, making it the largest HandsOn Network affiliate in the world based on the number of volunteers. There are 245 centers in United States.
Hands On Nashville Volunteer Report Card
Flood Response Volunteerism - April 26, 2011
332,756 - The approximate number of volunteer hours donated to flood recovery and rebuilding by Hands On Nashville and its rebuild partners’ volunteers between May 3, 2010, and May 1, 2011.*
25,870 - Number of volunteers who donated their time to participate in flood-related volunteer programming coordinated by Hands On Nashville and its rebuild partners between May 3, 2010, and May 1, 2011.*
$6,937,963 - The projected economic impact of Hands On Nashville and its rebuild partners’ flood volunteerism, according to Independent Sector research, between May 3, 2010, and May 1, 2011.*
1,302 - The number of project sites coordinated by Hands On Nashville and its rebuild partners between May 3, 2010, and May 1, 2011.*
92 - The number of flood-damaged homes restored by volunteers and HVAC experts for low-income homeowners through Hands On Nashville’s partnerships with Rebuilding Together and other community service agencies between July and December 2010.
53 - The number of volunteer projects completed in flood-damaged homes in 2011, coordinated through a partnership between Hands On Nashville; The River Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, which was established by Garth Brooks to support flood victims via nonprofit organizations; Westminster Presbyterian Disaster Assistance; West Nashville Flood Recovery Network; and Southeast Nashville Recovery. Through this collaboration, by Sept. 1, 2011, volunteers will have finished projects in more than 170 flood-impacted homes referred to this program by case managers.
20 - The number of years Hands On Nashville volunteers have been making a
difference in our community.
*These numbers account only for verified service contributed by volunteers registered via www.hon.org and managed by Hands On Nashville or its home restoration partners. They do not include the more than 125,000 volunteer referrals made by Hands On Nashville staff to facilitate grassroots efforts led by faith, nonprofit and community groups since May of 2010.
Number of people reached by Hands On Nashville’s flood-related communication vehicles:
27,803 - New Facebook followers since May 1, 2010.
218,422 - Unique users visiting www.hon.org since May 1, 2010.
5,948 - Twitter followers.
Congratulations to Patty Luscuola
Congratulations to Patty Luscuola of Nature Coast Volunteer Center, the Get HandsOn winner for the month of April. As the winner, Patty will receive an iPad and $2,500 for the charity of her choice. Patty used the Develop a Disaster Plan playbook from the Get HandsOn site to develop a disaster Train the Trainer presentation, posted journal entries and photos about her project, and even received media attention for her event!
Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
Here’s what you can do right now:
- Volunteer: If you are interested in volunteering with HandsOn Tokyo please follow this link to register.
* Hands On Tokyo is actively engaging volunteers in the consolidation, distribution and delivery of needed supplies to the impacted communities of Sendai, Ishinomaki and Ojika Town in response to the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. They are working on developing additional projects in the impacted region and should have opportunities available in June.
* If you live outside of Japan, volunteer opportunities may take longer due to need to find proper accommodations and support for international volunteers.
* If you register your interest to volunteer, as soon as volunteer opportunities become available HandsOn Tokyo will send you an email updating you on those opportunities. Until then please do not call as HandsOn Tokyo’s offices as they are temporarily closed.
- Donate: Right now, monetary support is needed more than anything else. To donate resources to support recovery efforts Visit the HandsOn Tokyo homepage on eBay (Please do not send goods, monetary resources are most useful until needs are fully assessed)
- Teach: Resources at generationOn can help children and young adults better understand what their role in disaster relief, even when the disaster is far away, through lessons of philanthropy. Click here for lessons and other resources.
- Follow: Up to date information related to the disaster will be posted on twitter (this will only be updated when new information is available)
PLEASE BE REMINDED AS WITH ALL DISASTERS PLEASE DO NOT SELF DEPLOY TO THE REGION IMPACTED BY THE DISASTER. PLEASE WAIT UNTIL VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE IS REQUESTED.
