United Way seeking disaster assistance volunteers

United Way trains disaster assistance volunteers to staff a distribution site where residents would come to receive ice, water and food after a disaster.

BOYNTON BEACH – United Way of Palm Beach County is seeking volunteers to help in disaster assistance should a hurricane or other disaster strike the area. A training class will be held on June 3, from 6 -7:30 p.m. at United Way’s office in Boynton Beach. New volunteers as well as previously registered United Way disaster volunteers may attend.

Volunteers must be 16 or older. To volunteer as a disaster assistance volunteer, call (561) 375-6683. Volunteers may also register for the training session by visiting the United Way website. Driving directions to United Way are also available on the website.

United Way of Palm Beach County is the lead agency for Palm Beach County Emergency Management ESF-15 (Volunteers and Donations). As such, United Way coordinates voluntary goods and services to support the relief effort in the county before and after a disaster. That responsibility includes operating a Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) to mobilize volunteers, and to assist in relief and recovery efforts. The VRC opens within 72 hours after a disaster strikes.

During the training session, volunteers will learn how to staff a VRC. There are a variety of assigned jobs, including greeters, data entry, phone bank, safety trainers and volunteer coordinators. In addition, United Way will train volunteers on how to staff a distribution site where county residents would come following a disaster to receive ice, water and Meals Ready to Eat.

Volunteers will also learn how they can volunteer with the Palm Beach County Disaster Recovery Coalition.

“Those who volunteer in disaster assistance with United Way of Palm Beach County play a vital role in the work we do following a storm. With June quickly approaching, it is important we provide training to new volunteers, as well as offer this training as a refresher course to our registered disaster volunteers,” said Donna Pulda, manager, Volunteer Center.

During the hurricane season of 2004-2006, United Way of Palm Beach County recruited more than 3,000 volunteers who worked close to 20,000 hours in relief efforts, and in distributing ice, water and food at various distribution sites throughout the county. United Way of Palm Beach County is actively involved in supporting the county’s disaster-related volunteer needs, working closely with officials to develop a more effective disaster management plan.