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UNITED IN DISASTERS
Get a Plan…to Volunteer!
Steps to Helping Your Community Before, During and After a Disaster
Volunteers are essential in being prepared for, responding to and recovering from disasters. The key is to get trained and affiliated before the storm. To prepare our community to effectively utilize and derive maximum benefit from the contributions of volunteers, and to motivate the public to become affiliated with a relief organization before a disaster occurs, the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties’ Volunteer Center and First Call for Help/2-1-1 have established the United in Disasters’ Disaster Volunteer Management Program.
The resources of a Volunteer Center and 2-1-1 are most appreciated than in a time of disaster, because of their ability to quickly mobilize and deploy large numbers of volunteers to meet a broad array of community needs. The skill and ability to match citizens desiring to help with specific needs in the community are not generally available in the disaster response system. Advance collaborative planning ensures that the Volunteer Center and 2-1-1 ensures a coordinated response when disaster strikes. For instance, spontaneous unaffiliated volunteers can be sent by the Volunteer Center to work alongside trained volunteers to expand the capacity of major disaster relief agencies. Spontaneous volunteers can also fill staffing gaps and enhance the ability of community-based organizations to respond to their constituents. The Volunteer Center may even organize teams to offer direct relief services to individuals and families with limited or unavailable resources.
United in Disasters will strengthen local governments, volunteer agencies, and private sector organizations as new volunteers affiliate with local relief agencies. The community will derive the benefits of planning and organization as the effectiveness of all volunteers increases. A strong partnership will develop between response agencies and the Volunteer Center/2-1-1 as all volunteers find meaningful and stimulating opportunities to help their community before and after disasters.
Would you like an opportunity to contribute your unique talents to your community? Agencies throughout Volusia and Flagler Counties are searching for board members who can share in decision making to improve their services, provide planning vision, and help them to develop and grow. Matching individuals like you with these agencies is the mission of the Volunteer Center Board Bank.
What is the Board Bank?
The Volunteer Center Board Bank is a resource for linking interested, skilled people with nonprofit organizations who are seeking board and committee members.
Who participates?
Candidates are community volunteers, small business owners, professionals, corporate employees and retirees, all with a broad range of skills. Many are exploring board service for the first time. Board Bank agencies include both emerging and long-established organizations.
What are these agencies looking for?
The skills that are always in high demand:
Most organizations want board members, who are willing to be involved in fundraising activities, representation from all areas of Volusia and Flagler Counties, and of diverse populations within the community. Above all, these agencies need people who are eager to support their organizational mission through the gift of their time, enthusiasm, and talent.
 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Luncheon
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The Volunteer Center of the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties and presenting sponsor Bright House Networks are proud to once again recognize outstanding achievement within the voluntary sector. Our annual Outstanding Volunteers of the Year Awards program salutes those individuals and organizations whose caring and compassion for their community has enhanced the quality of life for others in both Flagler and Volusia Counties.
We are proud to honor the following winners for this year's Outstanding Volunteers of the Year Awards Luncheon:
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Award Winner’s Name
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Award
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Faith Coleman
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Outstanding Adult Volunteer of the Year
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Millie Samples
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Runner-Up for Outstanding Adult Volunteer of the Year
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June Holmes-Sloan
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Outstanding Senior Volunteer of the Year
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Dr. John Canakaris
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Runner-Up for Outstanding Senior Volunteer of the Year
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Rachel Rene Moore
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Outstanding Youth Volunteer of the Year
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Kayla Drummond
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Runner-Up for Outstanding Youth Volunteer of the Year
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Great Kids Explorer Club
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Outstanding Education Volunteer Group of the Year
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Ruby Clark
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Outstanding Education Volunteer of the Year
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Carol Sasek
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Runner-Up Outstanding Education Volunteer of the Year
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Sew Many Memories
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Outstanding Civic Volunteer Group of the Year
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S.T.A.R.S. – Special Team – Always Ready with Smiles
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Runner-Up for Outstanding Civic Volunteer Group of the Year
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Auto Sales for WARM – Local Auto Dealers
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Outstanding Corporate Volunteer Group of the Year
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Florida Hospital of DeLand
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Runner-Up for Outstanding Corporate Volunteer Group of the Year
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Lisa Doig
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Outstanding Disaster Response Volunteer of the Year
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Donna and Wesley Hankes
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Runner-Up for Outstanding Disaster Response Volunteer of the Year
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Kiwanis Clubs of Volusia and Flagler Counties
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Outstanding Make a Difference Day Project of the Year
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 Make a Difference Day
What is Make A Difference Day?
Known as the “national day of doing good” Make A Difference Day is a national effort designed to mobilize citizens in communities across the country in volunteer service—Neighbors helping Neighbors. Created and sponsored nationally by USA Weekend, this is the 18th Annual Make A Difference Day. Thousands of people, young and old, are committed to spending Saturday, October 25th making a difference through service projects in Volusia and Flagler Counties.
Projects can range from fund-raising walks to donation drives of those desperately-needed supplies for foster families, to collecting gently worn clothing for the homeless, to landscaping and painting projects. Reports confirmed that this event last year was once again the largest in Florida, with over 8,000 people participating in Flagler and Volusia Counties.
The Volunteer Center’s efforts are so well received because this the Volunteer Center takes care of everything—volunteer recruitment, publicity, and even taking care of your paperwork to register the project with USA Weekend. This is an incredible opportunity for individuals who usually do not work together to do so. It is also an opportunity for families to demonstrate good family values by participating together in worthy causes.
Why get involved? What others are saying…
I have participated in the United Way Make A Difference Day projects for over 10 years, as a Development Director for Non-profit, I have found year after year that Make A Difference Day provides much more than one day of service to agencies. Our agency has made friendships that continue today. Large projects or little 4 hour projects have generated continuing support for our children during Holidays and Birthdays and throughout the years. We have been blessed to have Make A Difference Day volunteers continue service to our agency through their work as Advisory Board members, Mentors and volunteers. It is the United Way avenue to the community that brings awareness to our mission, goals and needs. Working with the United Way staff makes the coordination of the project so easy, they are always working for the agencies to make sure what we need is made possible. I believe if you pass up the chance to be a part of Make A Difference Day, you are missing out on so many unknown possibilities to support your clients. It is fun and United Way makes it easy for you to participate....A coat of paint can literally improve the life of a child, the person behind the paintbrush can truly make a difference in so many ways!
Shirley Jeter
Director of Development
Children's Home Society
North Coastal Division
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE OR ANY OTHER UNITED WAY PROGRAM, PLEASE LOG ONTO WWW.LIVEUNITEDINVOLUSIAFLAGLER.ORG!!
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