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Community Corner

The Volunteer Center of United Way Receives Funding to Bolster Region's Response to Hurricane Sandy and Strengthen Its Ability to Prepare for and Recover from Future Disasters

The Volunteer Center of United Way has hired a disaster recovery expert to recruit highly skilled volunteers from the community to assist with ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts, and expand coordination of disaster volunteer resources to help New Yorkers be better prepared for the next disaster.

As part of a state-wide initiative under the direction of Governor Cuomo, the New York State Commission on National & Community Service has provided each of the 10 Regional Volunteer Centers (RVCs) across the State with $50,000 in funding to increase their capacity to engage volunteers to help prepare New York’s communities for potential disasters of the type experienced with Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee and Superstorm Sandy.  In addition, The Volunteer Center of United Way is one of three RVCs to receive funding through the Sandy Block Grant, which will allow it to recruit a network of highly skilled volunteers to assist in Superstorm Sandy recovery.  As stated in the CNCS FY2014 Congressional Budget Justification, “New York State’s regional volunteer center infrastructure was a leading entity coordinating volunteers and national service resources during the response to Hurricane Sandy, and it continues to connect New Yorkers with opportunities to support the state’s ongoing restoration efforts.” 

 

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The Volunteer Center of United Way is the RVC for the seven counties of the Lower and Mid Hudson Valley including Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan and Ulster.  After Hurricane Sandy, The Volunteer Center played an important role in recruiting and managing volunteers for United Way’s 211 database.  The Volunteer Center has been instrumental in creating, and currently chairs, the Westchester and Putnam Long-Term Recovery Coalition Volunteer Coordination Subcommittee.  Additionally, The Volunteer Center sits on the Executive Committee of both coalitions.  

 

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Alisa H. Kesten, Executive Director of The Volunteer Center said, “We appreciate the Governor’s and the Commission’s support in helping our communities prepare for future weather-related and other potential crises that we might face. In the past, we’ve always pulled together to overcome adversity. This support will help us be even better prepared.” 

 

“We are thrilled to announce that we have hired Damian Morales to lead our efforts to effectively engage more volunteers after a disaster,” added Judy Douglas, Director of Regional Volunteerism at The Volunteer Center. “Damian has spent the last nine months doing very similar work as a Community Recovery Specialist for The American Red Cross. His pre-existing relationships will be a tremendous asset to this project.”

In his role, Mr. Morales will be responsible for building relationships among federal and state entities, local offices of emergency management, human services agencies, faith-based organizations, disaster volunteer organizations, and other community stakeholders to effectively coordinate volunteer resources during a disaster response. 

Among his goals will be the recruitment and training of highly skilled disaster volunteers based upon the specific needs identified by the community, said Mr. Morales. “Highly skilled volunteers are individuals with specialized knowledge and experience in their given trade, craft, or industry who provide their services and expertise free of charge,” Mr. Morales added, “And volunteers with experience and skills in housing and infrastructure, case management, and insurance are especially valuable.”

Members of the community who feel they have appropriate skills to help in disaster relief should register on The Volunteer Center’s website at www.volunteer-center.org, or call The Volunteer Center at (914) 948-4452. 

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