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How to Volunteer for Storm Relief
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Storms 2008 Volunteer Opportunities in
To learn how you can help with recovery efforts in
You may register your team on line at REGISTER YOUR TEAM
The Volunteer coordinator is Reverend Melisa Bracht-Wagner who is the Associate Pastor at First UMC,
Conference Volunteers in
Phone 515-432-1226, Cell phones: Jean 515-778-9414, Dan 515-991-4797.
The Need
Record flooding, with rivers cresting far higher than previous records, was experienced in a number of cities and rural areas in eastern
The Work
As of mid-September of 2008 some clean up and demolition remains, with rebuilding beginning. The rebuilding involves siding, flooring, electrical, plumbing, heating, dry wall, door and window replacement, finish carpentry, etc. It is very helpful to have some skilled volunteers on each team that can oversee the work of the less skilled but willing and enthusiastic volunteers. A ratio of at least one skilled worker to four unskilled workers is suggested.
Housing
Housing is in churches and accommodations vary depending on what is available in each church. Team leaders will be informed of the availability of cots or beds and volunteers will need to provide their own bed linens. In some cases you may have to travel a short distance to another facility to take a shower. Every effort is made to accommodate all team members in one church but large teams may need to sleep in separate nearby churches.
The team is normally responsible for their own grocery shopping and food preparation in the church but there may be some meals provided by the host church. You can count on great hospitality regardless of the accommodations!
Costs
A donation of $10 per team member per day is requested to help the host church with their additional costs and for miscellaneous project costs. Some churches can provide meals for an additional $10 per team member per day.
Donations
Donations for building materials are not required but are thankfully accepted. Checks should be made payable to the Iowa Annual Conference and noted for # 223. The host church or volunteer coordination office can accept the donations.
Youth
Youthful volunteers are welcome provided they are at least fourteen years of age. There must be at least one adult for every five youth with the adults being at least eighteen years of age and five years older than the youth. Please note the Parental Consent and Power of Attorney forms that must be executed by parents that do not accompany their youth.
Tools
Some tools may be available on-site but each team leader needs to verify availability with the volunteer coordination office, especially for electric, plumbing and heating work.
Forms
The Team Application form or the on-line registration form must be received at least one month prior to the dates of the mission. The Medical and Liability Release and Safe Sanctuary forms must be executed by all adult team members. The Parental Consent and Power of Attorney forms must be executed by parents that do not accompany their youth. The Covenant for Success and the Emergency Contact forms should be utilized in conjunction with the orientation as the team leader prepares the team for the mission.
Insurance
Insurance coverage is important and required of all volunteers. Team members should check their own health and accident policies to verify that they will be covered on the trip. Reasonably priced accident insurance may be obtained through the Mission Volunteers Office of the General Board of Global Ministries at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/about/us/mv/ or through your Jurisdiction UMVIM office.
Travel
Arrival and departure dates must be verified by the volunteer coordination office and may vary with the host site. Each team must provide their own transportation to and from job sites, very likely in groups as small as five, depending on the available work in the homes. Commercial air service is available through
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