Pennsylvania VOAD members respond to disasters in Pennsylvania. Contact us to volunteer with a trusted Pennsylvania VOAD member.
Recently the York VOAD Long Term Recovery Committee held a two-day telethon which resulted in 1,118 calls being made to homeowners impacted by Hurricane Ida in York County. There are more calls to be made to homeowners. Therefore, another telethon is being organized for Saturday, February 4, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the York County Office of Emergency Management, 120 Davies Drive, York. If you are available to help, please contact Glenn Beard, [email protected], or ☎️717-471-1067. Even if it is just for an hour or two, it will be a great help. Everything you need to make these important calls will be provided.
Project Restoration organized by the Eastern PA Conference of The United Methodist Church continues its recovery efforts in Chester County and beyond for damage due to Hurricane Ida. Volunteers are needed now through next year. Skilled volunteers are welcome but not required. We have a Construction Project Manager on site to guide as much as needed (or less if appropriate). Groups and individuals are welcome. Come for a day or stay for a week! Housing/food is available if needed at a reduced rate. To register contact Denise Shelton at [email protected], ☎️484-441-6637 or complete our online registration form at https://www.epaumc.org/connectional-ministries/mission-outreach/disaster/. Scroll down for the individual and group registration buttons.
There is a need for volunteers to help with building new homes in Dawson Springs, KY -where a devastating string of tornadoes hit just over one year ago. Brethren Disaster Ministries will be working with Habitat for Humanity, staying at their warehouse in Madisonville, about a half hour from Dawson Springs. They have an urgent need for volunteer January 29-2/4 and 2/19-2/25. Contact- Cliff Kindy, [email protected], phone: ☎️260-982-2971.
Rebuilding continues following Tropical Storm Isaias in the Eastwick neighborhood of Philadelphia. Volunteers, skilled in general construction/ carpentry, as well as those willing to learn, are needed. Full funding is available for all materials. Workdays are being planned. Housing is also available for volunteers. Contact Sharon at [email protected] for more information.
Seeing images of disaster may compel you to head to the impacted area. Don?t underestimate the complexity of working in a disaster area. Until a need has been identified and the local community impacted has requested support, volunteers should not enter.
- Be sure to contact us before coming to the disaster area.
- Wait until it is safe to travel to volunteer sites and opportunities have been identified.
- Once assigned a position, make sure you have been given an assignment and are wearing proper safety gear for the task.
Be patient. Recovery lasts a lot longer than the media attention. There will be volunteer needs for many months, often years, after the disaster – especially when the community enters the long-term recovery period.