#Spotted: AmeriCorps was in New Orleans, Louisiana! From meeting our members, leaders, and champions to presenting the President's Volunteer Service Awards, we had a great time celebrating the power of service.
☑️AmeriCorps board members met our members of SBP, who support disaster recovery efforts nationwide. Founded after Hurricane Katrina, SBP has helped build more than 5,000 homes after disasters so far.
☑️AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith met our members of Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, who collect recycled oyster shells donated by local restaurants to build reefs and restore the state's eroding coastline.
☑️AmeriCorps awarded more than $10 million in federal funding to Volunteer Louisiana. Approximately 780 AmeriCorps members will support the state's economic development, education, and conservation efforts through the funding.
☑️AmeriCorps joined Mayor LaToya Cantrell to present the President's Volunteer Service Award to our members who made a difference in their communities through their commitment to service.
Read more: Bit.ly/ACLa#NationalService#Volunteerism#NOLA#Louisiana
It was wonderful to meet and discuss our work in New Orleans and across the nation. Thank you for recognizing the incredible efforts of our SBP AmeriCorps members! 💛
Seasoned Marketing Leader with experience in IT Services, Food & Beverage, Construction, SaaS, Enterprise Software, Engineering, Recreation and Outdoor, Energy, and Retail Sectors.
For any of my connections wondering how they might help those in North and South Carolina, here is a post that includes links to several organizations and possibilities.
Professor of Philosophy at Western Carolina University
Responding to Helene
Over the last couple decades, I’ve learned a lot from teaching a class on how different philosophical and religious traditions respond to suffering. For many, being able to do something to respond immediately in the aftermath of events like Hurricane Helene is deeply important. In that spirit, I wanted to share a couple lists of resources for those who would like to help my home community of Western NC, and are able to do so now or sometime in the future.
If you’re looking for something quick, the Asheville Citizen-Times has a great list of national agencies and organizations (as well as some things to avoid doing):
https://lnkd.in/esr3CVgb
For those looking for a lot more detail or really targeted giving opportunities, Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR) has an excellent, longer (community-sourced) list, including student affairs emergency funds at my own Western Carolina University and elsewhere:
https://lnkd.in/eHD8YgZ4
Speaking personally as a Rotarian, I’m sure there will be a response of some kind from Rotary International district 7670, but the focus there may be on longer-term rebuilding, as that is Rotary’s core strength. And as a long-time citizen advocate for CARE, it’s both gratifying and heartbreaking to see an organization that we usually associate with emergency humanitarian and development work internationally coming in to our own community:
https://lnkd.in/emP67dwi
This will be a long-term recovery effort, as some of our major local assistance organizations like MANNA FoodBank - Asheville NC have been physically devastated as well. So thank you to everyone who is able to help, in whatever ways you can — including reposting to amplify this message!
"Look for the helpers."
In times of crisis and hardship, these words from Mr. Rogers and his legacy-carrier, Daniel Tiger, remind us of two important things:
1) There will be helpers - experienced, capable individuals and organizations who are well-versed in coordinating relief efforts across many fronts.
2) We, too, can be helpers by supporting them and their work.
Fred Rogers reminded us that being a helper isn't about individual heroism, but instead a collective community effort - where we all can play an important role.
Knowing our role - either as an individual or an organization - is vital in situations like these.
If you're feeling called to help in some way, I encourage you to reflect on the best role you can play in this recovery effort.
For many of us who aren't already in and close by the communities most devastated by Hurricane Helene, the best way we can help is to donate money and provide requested support to organizations already on the ground - or to those that are providing bulk supplies to frontline organizations. This enables funds to be directed to the most pressing community needs, ensures roads stay clear for recovery vehicles, and enables rescue & recovery efforts to remain focused.
Thanks to Prof. John Whitmire for sharing this list from Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR) of local and regional organizations who are actively working on Hurricane Helene aid efforts - https://lnkd.in/eunz7egt - as well as other organizations and resources in his post below.
If you want to help now - and in the coming months - please donate to these experienced, capable, and connected helpers as they continue their critical work.
Professor of Philosophy at Western Carolina University
Responding to Helene
Over the last couple decades, I’ve learned a lot from teaching a class on how different philosophical and religious traditions respond to suffering. For many, being able to do something to respond immediately in the aftermath of events like Hurricane Helene is deeply important. In that spirit, I wanted to share a couple lists of resources for those who would like to help my home community of Western NC, and are able to do so now or sometime in the future.
If you’re looking for something quick, the Asheville Citizen-Times has a great list of national agencies and organizations (as well as some things to avoid doing):
https://lnkd.in/esr3CVgb
For those looking for a lot more detail or really targeted giving opportunities, Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR) has an excellent, longer (community-sourced) list, including student affairs emergency funds at my own Western Carolina University and elsewhere:
https://lnkd.in/eHD8YgZ4
Speaking personally as a Rotarian, I’m sure there will be a response of some kind from Rotary International district 7670, but the focus there may be on longer-term rebuilding, as that is Rotary’s core strength. And as a long-time citizen advocate for CARE, it’s both gratifying and heartbreaking to see an organization that we usually associate with emergency humanitarian and development work internationally coming in to our own community:
https://lnkd.in/emP67dwi
This will be a long-term recovery effort, as some of our major local assistance organizations like MANNA FoodBank - Asheville NC have been physically devastated as well. So thank you to everyone who is able to help, in whatever ways you can — including reposting to amplify this message!
This database reflect the efforts of The Pew Charitable Trusts to promote the use of nature-based solutions by state and local governments to help fortify communities in the face of more frequent and severe disasters.
Nature-based solutions are interventions that use natural processes and ecosystem services—ecological processes or functions that have value to people—to build resilience to floods, wildfires, droughts, and extreme heat.
https://ow.ly/hBZu50SCy1M
📢 Great article for all philanthropic organizations! 📢
Hurricane Helene has devastated communities, and there are many things we can do together to step up and provide support. Great article by Deborah Aubert Thomas at United Philanthropy Forum with valuable resources and suggested actions for those looking to make a difference.
Key takeaways:
🤝 Identify impactful ways to contribute.
⛑️ Provide critical resources to those in need.
🤝 Collaborate with other organizations for maximum impact.
#HurricaneHelene#DisasterRelief#Philanthropy
How can we serve your community?
The first step is getting to know our capabilities! When disaster strikes, our volunteers are ready to respond. Team Rubicon arrives in disaster zones, coordinates with local emergency response organizations, and establishes self-sustained bases of operations within range of potential worksites.
With wildfires blazing across the country, here's how our Greyshirt volunteers can assist before, during, and after a fire:
🌲 Fire Mitigation - Reducing fire risks by clearing flammable vegetation.
👥 Volunteer Management - Organizing and deploying skilled volunteers where they're needed.
🏠 Evacuation Centre Support and Logistics
🔎 Sifting Operations - Helping families safely recover cherished items from the ashes of their property.
Help us deploy more Greyshirts this wildfire season to support the communities that will need us most. Donate today and double your impact thanks to our matching partner, CN. https://bit.ly/4bfTqOg#DisasterRecovery#SocialImpact#Community#HelpingHands#MakeADifference#Wildfire#DisasterRelief
📢 The Premier's Department’s recent ‘Review of Emergency Volunteering’ is helping to lay a strong foundation for the future of the emergency volunteering sector.
📌 The Review of Emergency Volunteering made 13 recommendations for the State Emergency Management Committee and its member agencies to ensure we continue to meet the needs of communities during future disasters.
📌 Emergency volunteers of all types are essential in times of disaster, such as floods, fires, and storms. In recent years, we have seen the rate of informal community volunteering grow in response to disaster events like the 2019/2020 bushfires, and the 2022 Lismore Floods.
📌 A new $5 million grants program is being launched to acknowledge the changing patterns of volunteering and help these types of spontaneous volunteers to be better trained, equipped and coordinated.
👉 Reports 1 and 2 of the Review are now available. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gKdMV4xd#NSWGovernment#NSWGov#PremiersDepartment#emergencyvolunteers
As disasters—natural or manmade—occur with increasing frequency and scale, it is an important time to reflect and consider how philanthropy can help communities prepare for more coordinated responses to unforeseen disasters.
Philanthropy is uniquely positioned to help communities quickly respond in immediate relief and recovery stages of disaster relief. They can bring together and build relationships among funders and cross-sector stakeholders, leverage experience working in different sectors and on a wide variety of social issues, and quickly provide funding with fewer restrictions than a typical grant process, buying time for government support and the development of long-term recovery and preparedness strategies. Community foundations are often at the center of disaster relief efforts, whether as the sole administrator and leader of a fund or as the backbone organization in a partnership effort.
https://lnkd.in/gXcxdeqg
When disaster strikes, we deploy with one mission: to serve those in need, no matter the conditions. Our Greyshirt volunteers in Jasper are currently bunking down in a local church—simple, and exactly what we need to accommodate large teams of Greyshirts ready to GSD. Our volunteers in Jasper know the drill—billeting in austere environments isn’t just a necessity; it’s how we stay flexible and ensure we’re not taking resources from the communities we’re here to help.
From cots in a warehouse, church, or gym our lodging is always mission-first, Greyshirt-ready. We pack for the worst, hope for the best, and adapt to whatever comes our way. Because when the call comes, there’s no time for comfort—only commitment. This is the way we operate, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Earn your shirt, volunteer with our team today: https://lnkd.in/gK5J_Rz#Volunteer#HelpingOthers#wildfire#jasper#alberta#disasterrecovery#community#helpinghands
CODE BLUE WARNING ISSUED BY HRDC’S SHELTER IN RESPONSE TO ARCTIC COLD
Severe cold weather is forecast to hit the region beginning on Friday putting community members who are unhoused at high risk for exposure-related injuries.
Brian Guyer, HRDC’s Housing Director, issued the Code Blue designation which will begin at 7:00 am Friday and continue through 7:00 pm Monday depending on conditions saying:
“This is always a very necessary, but costly action to take. While our Bozeman and Livingston emergency overnight shelters are not currently funded to be open during daytime hours, we are extremely concerned about our guests’ safety. We can use all the support our community can provide to help keep our doors open around the clock for anyone seeking a warm, safe place to stay. Getting people out of the elements is our top concern.”
HRDC shelters up to 120 individuals each night and provides non-congregate shelter for families and individuals needing medical respite at a second Bozeman location. Regrettably, even with these facilities, seven people passed away while unhoused last year.
Donations to HRDC’s Warming Centers can be made online by visiting https://lnkd.in/gGgY64Nq or can be submitted by mail to HRDC, c/o The Warming Center, 32 S. Tracy Avenue, Bozeman, MT 59715.
PC: KBZK
#ArcticCold#Montana#Bozeman#Livingston
It was wonderful to meet and discuss our work in New Orleans and across the nation. Thank you for recognizing the incredible efforts of our SBP AmeriCorps members! 💛