August 29, 2006

Today marks the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.  We have been overwhelmed with news coverage of what didn’t work -- on the national, state and local level.  Even some nonprofit organizations have been criticized for their lack of preparedness for the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. 

However, there’s another story related to response and recovery from Katrina, a story that hasn’t been told.  The story is that some things actually worked the way they were supposed to work.  Due to the efforts of thousands of volunteers in the Gulf States and across the country, people were actually helped and helped quickly.  A network of volunteers was able to mobilize and get competent help where it was needed, when it was needed. 

That is the story contained in a report issued today by the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network, a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C.  The report, “We Are Family: Dimensions of Caring in Times of Disaster,” details how volunteers truly made a difference in the lives of hurricane victims and continue to do so.  For example:

• Volunteer! Baton Rouge in Louisiana, where the population doubled by 240,000 immediately following Katrina, processed more than 15,000 offers of volunteer help or donated goods. 
• Volunteer Jacksonville in Florida had an emergency response plan with resources and people in place so they were able to help the many people who arrived with only the clothes on their backs. 
• The Volunteer Center of North Texas handled more than 60,000 phone calls from evacuees and community volunteers.
• Hands On Nashville in Tennessee registered 2,700 new volunteers online, referred an additional 4,400 via phone and the Internet to area nonprofit agencies and crisis services, and created more than 47 disaster relief-specific volunteer projects. 
• The Foundation used a $1 million grant from the Universal Peace Federation -- an alliance of religious and civic leaders -- for disaster relief.  The grant funds were awarded to 32 volunteer centers across the country for long-term hurricane recovery and for capacity-building to prepare for future disasters. 

Despite the loss of life and the tremendous damage to property throughout the Gulf Coast, volunteers are playing a vital role in hurricane relief and recovery.  The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network have been integrally involved in these efforts.  For more information, click here.