In the event of a disaster, United Way operates the Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) after the event.
United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades in conjunction with the Lee Emergency Management Division will be the liaison in connecting volunteers to partners needing assistance. The VRC is set up and staffed to intake and match volunteer skills with unmet needs in the community.
Please respond and complete your profile, if you are interested in being contacted in the event of an emergency. Once it is safe to enter the community we will reach out and notify you of available roles.
Examples of opportunities:
- Salvation Army may need volunteers to help in their mass-feeding kitchens following a disaster
- The American Red Cross may need volunteers to case-manage victims of a hurricane and direct them to temporary assistance
- An elderly person may need volunteers to help clear debris from their yard or flood-soaked carpet removed from their home
- Home-bound victims may need water or food delivered by volunteers
- and many, many more opportunities.
Volunteer Reception Center positions include registration and volunteer intake and interviewing, data collection and entry, safety training, phone bank, runners, greeters, etc.
The VRC serves to coordinate volunteers who are not currently established with an organization to help support relief efforts under the direction of Emergency Management. Volunteers will be assigned duties as needed by the VRC volunteer staff. (A spontaneous, unaffiliated volunteer or SUV is a person who has not received current, formal disaster response training from a state organization or agency active in disaster. )
There is a role for anyone who would like to become certified and assist at the Volunteer Reception Center in times of emergency. Volunteers must be 18 years or older. No special skills are necessary.
