HandsOn Network is actively reaching out to our affiliates who are in the disaster impacted regions from the recent domestic tornadoes and flooding. We are also actively supporting our international affiliate who is working with recovery efforts in Japan.

Related to the Alabama tornadoes, Hands On Birmingham, The Volunteer Center of Morgan County (Decatur, AL) and HandsOn River Region (Montgomery, AL) are helping to set up Volunteer Reception Centers to manage Spontaneous Unaffiliated Volunteers.

Related to the Missouri tornado and flooding, our affiliate the Volunteer Center in the United Way of Greater St. Louis has activated their 211 hotline, begun engaging volunteers in food distribution and are raising funds for their efforts through an internal auction and direct giving online.

In addition to the US disasters that hit this week, Related to the recent earthquake and Tsunami, monetary support is needed as much as anything else. To donate resources directly to HandsOn Tokyo, visit the HandsOn Tokyo homepage on eBay. You can also contribute to supporting HandsOn Network’s ongoing provision of volunteer mobilization and management technical assistance to HandsOn Tokyo.

Our emphasis with all disaster response work is to function locally, primarily through our HandsOn Action Centers, to support community resiliency through effective volunteer engagement.   We are focusing on developing affiliate capacity for disaster preparedness, response and recovery.  We develop partnerships, processes and systems to be effective resources in times of disaster.  And finally, we grow the affiliate work capacity to support the management of Spontaneous Unaffiliated Volunteers (SUVs), Volunteer Reception Centers (VRCs), and explore new ways HandsOn Action Centers and volunteers can be leaders in the disaster arena.

While we are continuing to assess the most immediate needs with all these disasters you can get engaged in the response in the following ways:

• Visit HandsOn Birmingham's website to register your interest to volunteer, to donate and to receive more information related to the Alabama tornadoes (listing for both Birmingham and Tuscaloosa) volunteer response.
• Visit the Volunteer Center of Morgan County who will be opening a VRC in Hulaco, AL today. Click here for more info at their website. For info on the VRC click here.
• Visit United Way of Greater St. Louis' website to volunteer, donate or receive more information related to the Missouri tornado and flooding volunteer response
• Visit Triangle Impact's website to volunteer, donate or receive more information related to the North Carolina tornadoes volunteer response
• Additionally you can visit HandsOn Tokyo online to register volunteer interest, donate or receive more information related to the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami volunteer response