A Week of Parties, Primaries, Protests and Purpose
This post is by Tracy Hoover, Points of Light’s CEO.
Tracy Hoover
If you’re like me, your dinner table, water cooler and social media conversations this week included Chris Rock quotes, primary predictions and a good bit of debate about what’s not working – in government and politics, but also in schoolrooms, courthouses and communities.
For the record, I think comedian Chris Rock did a good job as host of the Academy Awards. His was a tough assignment, and his use of humor as critique helped millions of people join the conversation and begin to grapple together with issues of institutionalized racism. While I respect the choice some celebrities made to boycott the Oscars by staying home, I applaud the artists who showed up, stood up and spoke out – in Hollywood and almost 2,000 miles away, in Flint, Michigan, where film directors Ava DuVernay (Selma) and Ryan Coogler (Creed) organized the Justice for Flint concert and fundraiser to raise money and awareness about the crisis involving the water supply.
As the Oscars aired, an impressive group of artist-activists including musician Janelle Monae, actor Jesse Williams, artist Ledisi, comedian Hannibal Buress and legend Stevie Wonder were with families in Flint – showing up, standing up and speaking out about the tragedy there, and inviting more of us to join that effort, too. On Twitter, #JusticeforFlint was trending at the same time as the Oscars, as supporters donated from across the U.S. to help local families.
Whether they spoke out at the Oscars in Hollywood or stood up with residents of Flint, these celebrities showed up as activists addressing disparities in opportunity and access – and they were heard. You may not agree with everything they said, and they didn’t all agree with each other, but they acted together as members of a community to make a difference. And this week, amid much political debate and too much divisiveness, these artist-activists were points of light for me.
Each day, I meet people like them who are troubled by an issue and who do more than just single out what’s wrong. These people take action and become points of light in lives and communities across the country and around the world. This year, Points of Light — the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service — will mobilize millions of people in more than 250,000 service projects in 30 different countries. Their efforts will include 30 million hours of direct volunteer service worth more than $635 million, and an overwhelming majority of them will also use their voice and influence, their vote and civic participation as well as their time and talent to tackle tough problems, both immediate and systemic.
These individual points of light know that making Flint a better place is about more than just fixing the water supply – just as ending homelessness is about more than the roof over one’s head, and eradicating poverty is about more than handing someone money. Volunteers all over the world know that improving lives means building strong, safe, healthy, participatory communities where everyone has access, opportunity and a role to play in building – and defining – the common good.
So, especially this week, I salute the points of light – the volunteers, artists, residents, students, activists and politicians – who are shining a spotlight on tough issues and doing more about them than protesting.
Putting Purpose on the Red Carpet
This post is by Ayesha Khanna, founder of the
Points of Light Civic Accelerator
.
This Sunday is the 88
th
Academy Awards – #Oscars in Twitter speak – the world’s biggest night in entertainment. Most years, I enjoy watching the Oscars from the comfort of a friend’s couch. But this year, I’ve been invited to join our good friends at PwC to attend “Putting Purpose on the Red Carpet,” their viewing party and red carpet event in Los Angeles to raise awareness on how purpose can drive powerful storytelling.
Ayesha Khanna
Instead of asking red carpet participants “Who are you wearing?” PwC will ask them about their purpose, and how they bring that purpose to life every day.
Now, where does purpose fit among the glitz and glamour of the world’s most famous red carpet event? PwC is making the point that purpose is often the force behind the scene – the driving factor that motivates an actor, director or writer to persevere in the face of challenges to bring complex issues and powerful stories to the screen, and to make them accessible to audiences around the world.
In a nice twist, PwC will be interviewing not only big names, but also social entrepreneurs and educators – everyday people who have connected with their purpose to make a difference. I am excited to be a part of this creative effort by PwC to shed more light on how ordinary citizens are connecting to their purpose to bring about powerful change.
PwC is a founding supporter of the Points of Light’s Civic Accelerator, the only startup boot camp and investment fund that focuses on “civic ventures,” for-profits and nonprofits that include people as part of the solution to help solve critical social problems.
When I first received PwC’s invitation, my first thought was – you guessed it
–
“does this mean I have to find an Oscar-worthy dress?” Cue the panic. But my next thought was that this would be a fun, unique red carpet moment and an honor to share my purpose, the driving force that imbues my work and passion for social change.
I thought back to the years after I graduated from college, when I worked in villages in India with an incredible group of elders and women from the community, local nonprofits, experts and nuns from Mother Teresa’s order to build healthcare and education centers. This experience showed me how a small group of people, with many different talents and expertise, could make a big difference with limited resources. It was my first exposure to the idea that the innate desire to help others, along with innovative thinking and persistence, goes a long way to making big, bold and unimaginably good things happen.
As a President of the Civic Accelerator, I continue to live my purpose every day. Points of Light’s mission is to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that changes the world. Through the Civic Accelerator, we are supporting social entrepreneurs in their journey to make big things happen. We provide training and an in-depth curriculum, working with expert faculty and mentors across our national networks. Our corporate partners contribute their assets to support the entrepreneurs and we invest $50,000 in the two top teams in each class, as determined by the entrepreneurs themselves.
One of the most gratifying parts of my work is seeing our impact multiply through the power of our entrepreneurs. In just four years since launching the Civic Accelerator, we have graduated 74 teams, and they, in turn, have generated more than $30 million in revenue and engaged almost 4 million people to help solve these issues.
PwC streamed live from the red carpet on the Huffington Post. Listen to Ayesha from Oscar night as she talks about her purpose and commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship.
Carolina Linares, left, with fellow Financial Opportunity Corps AmeriCorps VISTA member Tamika Mallard
Someone asked me once (or twice) why I was doing a year of service with AmeriCorps VISTA, a national service organization that focuses on Lyndon Johnson’s 1964 resolution to eradicate poverty in our community.
It seemed ludicrous for them to think that someone would want to dedicate a year of their life doing something that wasn’t directly advancing their career. That doesn’t make them callous, it just makes them practical.
For me, it was so much more than just a rest stop from my career in journalism and photography; it was about doing something that would make me proud, and above all, something that would allow me to contribute to my community. I wanted to make a difference – as simple as that.
For many years, I had planned to become an AmeriCorps member, but it always came a close second after school, work, etc. The reason behind it was that it never seemed like the right time – until it was.
I started to browse through positions on the AmeriCorps portal looking for my best fit. Two months later, I found a couple of service opportunities that caught my attention and I went ahead and applied for them.
My introduction to AmeriCorps VISTA was through the Summer Associate Program at the Miami Coalition for the Homeless as an outreach coordinator. Immediately thereafter, I started my yearlong service with the Financial Opportunity Corps. HandsOn Broward, part of Points of Light’s HandsOn Network, was one of nine sites that pioneered this program.
In my VISTA role I help coordinate a financial literacy program that takes as a premise the coaching framework to help individuals become financially self-reliant. We do this through financial education workshops and one-on-one coaching. Among other duties, I help recruit and train the volunteers who would take on these roles.
This was not a service that was readily available to the community members in the low-to-moderate income bracket. Another aspect that makes this program unique is its focus on individuals, their financial goals and their strengths rather than their shortcomings. Someone could be somewhat money wise and still struggle to save.
Sometimes, they just need an accountability partner, and that is what we offer them.
I’ve also worked on developing strategic alliances with community organizations that have supported the success of the program.
As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, I understood the need to alleviate poverty and enhance the community in which I lived; that is why most of us commit to do this work full time for at least a year. But it is not until I started developing my program and started working alongside community partners, organizations and volunteers that I saw how this work was having such a positive effect in the lives of the people we were serving.
I used to think that it was too hard for one person to have an impact in our society, but being a VISTA member, I have found out that each person’s effort and talent contributes tremendously to change. I never imagined how vast the reach of one person’s effort was.
I decided to extend my service for an additional year because I told myself, “I am not done expanding this program.” (This was the second year this program had been in place.) I felt that my mission wasn’t complete because there were still some plans I wanted to implement in the new program year.
The VISTAs before me paved the way for us by creating the foundation to get the program started, and it was our job to build upon their effort and ensure the sustainability of the program for years to come.
Through this position I have been able to grow and improve myself both in the personal and the professional aspect. I learned a lot about myself, and through interacting with many people from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, I also learned how to adapt to different environments and adjust my approaches accordingly.
I knew HandsOn Broward was the perfect site for me in which to be stationed because of its collaborative, small-team environment. Working hand in hand with these people proved to be very valuable in my professional and personal life because each of them possesses a unique set of talents that they brought to the table.
They were always willing to share their expertise in a particular subject, and taught me skills that I will continue to carry and improve upon for the rest of my life. Sometimes it was as easy as simplifying an approach for me, since I tend to overcomplicate everything.
During my tenure as an AmeriCorps VISTA, I learned about leadership and presentation skills by training and managing a group of amazing volunteers who also taught me a lot about other topics. I saw from their involvement and dedication the qualities that I wanted to ensure I nurtured in myself. The skills I have learned through my service are too numerous to list.
In sum, I serve because through our work as volunteers, we are able to bring programs to a community that alternatively may not have access to them, because we are able to see our community grow from the efforts of like-minded people and because each step we take is helping someone who wouldn’t have been able to receive this service otherwise.
The expression “Esprit de Corps” – a feeling of pride, fellowship and common loyalty shared by the members of a particular group – encapsulates everything I have gained and expected to gain from serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA member.
I am proud to be a part of this group of like-minded and service-oriented individuals who work together to effect change in their community.
Here are some accomplishments from the Financial Opportunity Corps’ second year:
462 low-income individuals received one-on-one financial coaching from trained volunteers (financial coaches) at nine sites across the country.
More than 1,700 community members have attended financial education workshops supported by AmeriCorps VISTA members and trained community volunteers.
341 trained financial coaches are participating in the program, including 47 Bank of America employees.
At HandsOn Broward, 37 trained volunteers are working one on one with and providing financial coaching for 40 low-income community members. AmeriCorps VISTA also helped support financial education workshops reaching 279 community members during the past year.
For more information on AmeriCorps VISTA opportunities throughout the country, go to www.nationalservice.gov/VISTA. For more about the Financial Opportunity Corps, visit www.pointsoflight.org/financial-coaching.
4 Ways to Make Valentine’s Day Sweeter by Giving Gifts and Giving Back
Dinner reservations, boxes of chocolate, flowers – are you tired of the same old Valentine’s Day traditions? Make Valentine’s Day a little sweeter this year by spending time volunteering and giving back with the ones you love.
1. Send a Valentine to someone who won’t expect it.
Valentines and love notes aren’t just for secret crushes. This year, send one (or several!) to someone you think could use a pick-me-up. Many children’s hospitals have great, easy ways to send a Valentine online and brighten a child’s day. Check out Children’s National Medical Center, Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Cincinatti Children’s Hospital, or contact your local hospital to get involved. You could also participate in DoSomething.org’s “Love Letters” campaign, to help spread the love to seniors around the country. And, the National Salute to Veteran Patients program, run by the Department of Veterans Affairs, encourages volunteers to contact local VA medical centers to learn about ways to show love and appreciation to veterans during the week of Feb. 14.
2. Visit a local senior center.
Many older folks have lost their spouses, and the holidays can be an especially hard and lonely time for them. Just being there to listen can make a huge difference in a resident’s day. If you prefer a more structured approach, you could plan to perform a short play or a series of songs, inviting seniors to join in to sing along. Other activities include reading, board games, and scrapbooking. For more suggestions on planning your visit, check out this guide to visiting nursing homes.
Give your significant other a gift that benefits a good cause, or make a charitable donation in their name. Need some gift-buying inspiration? Check out these lists of gifts that give back, from Refinery29 and Buzzfeed.
Few things bring people closer together than volunteering. You get to go do something new and feel all the warm fuzzies you get from helping others. Need some ideas? Here are 20 volunteer date ideas to get you started.
Get involved in your community! Explore local volunteer opportunities at www.allforgood.org.
The First ServiceWorks Bootcamp: AmeriCorps VISTAs Help Direct the Future for Opportunity Youth
This post is by Georgia Gillette, senior vice president of programs at Points of Light.
history was made recently as we launched a brand new component to our program. As part of our national effort to mark the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday with a day of service learning, we debuted a one-day version of our curriculum, centered around a service project benefitting local communities around the country.
Volunteers and AmeriCorps VISTA members pack care kits for Washington, D.C.-area homeless during the first ServiceWorks Skill Building Bootcamp.
And the
very
first of our 15 host sites to put on a Skill Building Bootcamp was the
(CPDC) in Washington, D.C. These firsts are obviously an important and exciting step as we continue to expand our reach and impact.
But it was also meaningful for me personally, because it was my first chance to see this collaborative initiative from
in action.
It blew my mind. Talk about layer upon layer of meaningful service; it was like seeing a thrilling performance of a play within a play. And the directors of that play were
explaining the critical role VISTAs play America’s struggle to lift its citizens out of poverty.
AmeriCorps VISTA members show their enthusiasm at the first ServiceWorks Skill Building Bootcamp, held in Washington, D.C.
That role is just as critical within ServiceWorks. VISTAs are passionate, professional and talented young people who’ve signed up for a year of national service to support poverty-fighting nonprofits, working with host agencies like CPDC – and can be the backbone of a program.
In our case, VISTAs are responsible for recruiting “opportunity youth” to join the program. These are 16-to 24-year-olds at risk of becoming disconnected from college and career. And getting them in our proverbial door – no easy feat. So the VISTAs at CPDC are finding ways to get creative in reaching this population.
Our VISTAs are provided with a service learning curriculum that helps “Service Scholars” – the program participants – learn about the value of volunteerism for themselves and their community, develop professional networks and even design their own service project.
To better appeal to potential participants,
VISTAs go above and beyond – tweaking and adjusting the curriculum to target the needs of the young people and the community in which they serve. They’re also charged with recruiting professional volunteers to deliver pieces of the curriculum or act as success coaches to the Service Scholars.
AmeriCorps VISTA members, volunteers and ServiceWorks participants gather for a service project as a housing community in Washington, D.C.
For this special day, the VISTAs worked beautifully together as a team of five. These young women epitomized national service – diverse, energetic, prepared, committed, able to problem solve on the fly – and frankly, full of fun.
If the VISTAs were the on-site directors of this unique ServiceWorks event, the stars of the show were the Scholars themselves. Getting up early on a cold Saturday to do a six-hour service “bootcamp” isn’t for everyone. The 10 or so scholars I met reminded me of the great potential in any group of 16- to 24-year-olds.
These kids had been recruited from various high schools in the neighborhood, but didn’t necessarily know each other at the beginning of the day. They probably weren’t entirely sure why they were there or what to expect. The start to the day reminded me a little of the coming-of-age movie, “The Breakfast Club.”
But within an hour of icebreakers and team-building activities, expertly led by the VISTAs, the Scholars were engaged and ready for whatever came their way. They were there to learn, to explore, to meet new people, to have fun and to make a difference in their community. They asked questions, they jumped into each activity with gusto and their individual personalities and passions came out more and more with each new activity.
Let’s not forget the importance of the supporting cast in a play. In ServiceWorks, community volunteers have an important role — and in this case, may have stolen the show. In the middle of the day, the VISTA team put together a project to show Scholars what’s possible through service – assembling care kits for those in need.
Adults from
., an organization serving adults with mild mental disabilities, joined the entire group. They were thrilled to be there, and so eager to serve. They hung on every word of the directions, and devoted focused attention to each step in the assembly line.
The accomplishment and joy they felt at successfully packing each kit was palpable, and their enthusiasm sustained the rest of us. The Scholars seemed motivated by their new “friends in service” – cheering them on, offering to help and getting to know them.
Energized by the project, Scholars then got down to the bootcamp material – a series of sessions on topics such as professionalism, resume writing and dressing for success. An entirely new cadre of community volunteers joined to facilitate these lessons.
One session was led by an African-American woman who grew up in Philadelphia. She’d made it out of the inner city and served more than 20 years as a foreign service officer with the U.S. State Department. The Scholars were impressed by her professional accomplishments and were captivated as she told them how she got there.
There really was service everywhere you looked at Mayfair Mansions Community Center that day. It was clear that volunteers come in all shapes and sizes, and have different abilities and motivations.
But thanks to the direction of ServiceWorks VISTAs, it all comes together – surrounding our next generation of college students, professionals and service leaders with diverse and heartfelt volunteer skills, success stories, and solutions to personal and community challenges.
Before the Next Storm Hits, Register to Help Your Neighbors
Snow can paralyze communities, causing food shortages, traffic accidents and exposing vulnerable populations to extreme cold.
Winter Storm Jonas caused havoc in cities and rural communities – affecting 102.8 million people and covering about 434,000 square miles in 26 states, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And, as CBS News reported, preliminary estimates say the economic impact of the storm may top $850 million.
While snow can be devastating, our world is more connected to community resilience resources. Points of Light’s HandsOn Network affiliates activated their communities to come to the rescue. Among them:
Long Island Volunteer Center (with support from disaster buddy Volunteer Knoxville) created a Jonas page to register volunteers in partnership with local disaster response officials to respond to immediate needs.
Volunteer Alexandria, in the D.C. area, had 28 “snow buddies” assisting 67 local residents. Each volunteer contributed approximately three hours during the storm. One grateful resident said, “I’m 92, and I was so scared about how I would get out. You are like angels.”
If you don’t have a HandsOn Network affiliate in your area, consider registering with other emergency disaster snow groups. SnowCrew.org provides a platform to connect community members with volunteers who shovel snow.
Neighbor-to-neighbor assistance supports local residents and taps into the American spirit. Before the next storm hits, register to help today!
Take Part in the Super Bowl of Service
This post is by Alison Doerfler, executive director of Points of Light’s HandsOn Network.
There is something about the Super Bowl that brings out the competitive spirit in many of us. I witnessed this first hand when I heard there was friendly competition taking place on Points of Light’s playing field.
As a result, this year, fans of the Broncos, the Panthers and of service can do more than cheer to show their support. They can volunteer! Inspired by the competition, we’re announcing the 2016 HandsOn Network Super Bowl Challenge.
The terms are simple: From today, Monday Feb. 1, through Sunday, Feb. 7, we will track the number of Hands On Charlotte’s volunteer hours and combine them with the Panthers’ Super Bowl score. We will also track the number of Metro Volunteers’ volunteer hours in this same time period and combine them with the Broncos’ score.
Winner takes the title and 2016 HandsOn Network Super Bowl Challenge grant of $500. The executive director of the losing affiliate, wearing the winner’s team jersey/affiliate T-shirt, will share a personalized song via video on Facebook to the Nationwide jingle by Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning.
Anyone in the Charlotte and Denver areas can participate. Local changemakers can find and register for volunteer projects taking place this week in Charlotte and Denver.
Even if you don’t live in those areas, you can show your team and civic pride by finding a volunteer opportunity near you on All for Good. Share your volunteer experience online with the hashtag #SB50 and tag HandsOnNetwork, @PointsofLight, @HandsOnCLT or @MetroVolunteers.
May the best team (and community of local changemakers) win!
Is Your Company the Most Community Minded in America? Get Recognized by The Civic 50!
is searching for corporate trailblazers that are improving communities and driving social impact. Is your company engaged in the communities where you do business? Are your purpose-driven employees volunteering? Are your brand values reflecting social commitment? Is your philanthropy aligned with your corporate culture?
The Civic 50
recognizes these and other best practices each year and it all begins with a short survey.Interested companies can get started today at
companies are determined through a quantitative survey that benchmarks strategic philanthropy, employee engagement, business integration of community programs and measurement of impact.
Why Invest Your Time in The Civic 50?
Gain Recognition for Your Corporate Commitment to Community
The Civic 50
is the only award that recognizes corporate community-mindedness. Earning a spot on
The Civic 50
is a meaningful way to be recognized for what you do best and join the ranks of
and promoted through the webinars, press and social media throughout the year. Winners also earn opportunities to serve as speakers during global webinars, meetings, workshops and more.
Receive a Benchmark Scorecard When You Complete the Free Survey
The Civic 50
offers much more than a recognition platform. Every company that completes the survey, powered by
, will receive a benchmark report for this year’s participants and the opportunity for a deeper review of your results. Our valuable benchmarking resource has been described as a roadmap for maximizing community engagement programs and initiatives for social impact and business value. Completing
The Civic 50
survey is a simple way to help you translate good intentions into sound business practices for years to come.
How to Get Started
Participation in The Civic 50 survey is free and open to companies with revenue of $1 billion or more. Applications will be accepted through March 1. You can learn more about The Civic 50 and find the survey at www.Civic50.org.
Find resources and links to best practices here. Send your questions to [email protected].
Share your best practices on The Civic 50’s LinkedIn and Twitter pages.
What Past Winners Say
Adobe
– “Being on
The Civic 50
validates the importance of being involved in our local communities, a core value that is embraced by Adobe employees around the world. The impact that our time, talent and donations make where we live and work is felt by the company in many ways” – Michelle Crozier Yates, director, corporate responsibility, Adobe, and executive director,
list. We are proud of our community involvement. Our corporate citizenship program reflects our strategy to operate and grow our business while serving our customers and communities, mobilizes employees to create positive change and builds bonds with our customers.” – Scott Prochazka, president and CEO,
– “ConAgra Foods is thrilled and honored to be recognized by
The Civic 50
as one of most community-minded companies in the country. Supporting the communities in which we live and work is one of the key planks of our citizenship platform and this recognition is an important measure of how we are delivering on our ongoing commitment to being a good corporate citizen.” – Chris Kircher, vice president, corporate affairs, and president,
Because of committed volunteers, Connecticut residents like Aaron – who was laid off from his job – don’t have to go hungry.
“I’m speaking from the heart when I say that what you are doing is a wonderful thing,” he said in a message regarding the Danbury Food Collaborative, whose volunteers promote and support the program’s work. “Because of you, I never missed having fresh vegetables in my fridge and fresh food to feed my family.”
Danbury Food Collaborative volunteers at a food drive show some of the 3,100 pounds of food they collected to provide more than 2,600 meals to the community.
Food insecurity – the lack of access to enough food to fully meet basic needs at all times due to lack of financial resources – has become an increasingly large concern.
While many often associate Connecticut with wealth, the demographic makeup of Fairfield County and the city of Danbury in particular paints a different picture. Danbury is a melting pot of immigrant groups where nearly 35 percent of residents struggle financially. In Danbury Public Schools, more than 46 percent of children receive free and reduced-priced lunch.
As the local economy has been slow to recover, many individuals and families have found it difficult to put healthy and fresh food on the table.
To reduce suffering from hunger, the United Way of Western Connecticut, an affiliate of Points of Light’s HandsOn Network, launched the Danbury Food Collaborative in 2013. One of its first projects was to publish a guide to inform residents where and when they can go to access food programs.
The collaborative currently has more than 20 member food pantries, soup kitchens and nonprofit partners – including a farmers’ market – and city and university resources. The collaborative is now sharing resources such as volunteers, food donations among agencies, additional grant funding and new options for distributing more fresh, healthy food to clients.
Volunteers have been critical to the success of the Danbury Food Collaborative. The United Way of Western Connecticut coordinates volunteers from different organizations to pick up and drop off food at grocery stores and restaurants, rescuing fresh food that would otherwise be discarded.
The collaborative has issued more than 8,000 food guides, raised more than $60,000 in grants and donations, rescued more than 48,000 pounds of food from becoming waste and provided more than 40,000 healthy meals to those in need.
“The Danbury Food Collaborative has allowed our emergency homeless shelter access to more fresh fruits and vegetables for our clients,” said Sue Zaborowski, the social service manager for Danbury’s Department of Health and Human Services. “Having the ability to serve all types of fruits will help our clients stay in better health.”
Winter Storm Jonas is expected to deliver up to 30 inches of snow to parts of the East Coast. If you live in the storm area, check on your neighbors, especially the elderly and disabled.
Forty-six percent of residents expect to rely on their neighbors for support during the first 72 hours after an emergency. Be ready to lend a hand.
Points of Light is coordinating with HandsOn Network affiliates in the affected areas and connecting with Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster chapters across the U.S. to assess the situation and offer support.
HandsOn Network is the local expert in volunteer engagement and often the lead in managing spontaneous unaffiliated volunteers throughout the response and recovery effort.
If you would like to support the recovery effort, here’s what you can do to help:
Please don’t:
Don’t self-deploy at this time. The situation is still critical and travel is extremely difficult or impossible throughout much of the affected area.
Don’t bring supplies or donations to fire stations, police departments, etc. First responders need to focus on immediate needs and emergency situations.
Please do:
Dodonate to help Points of Light and HandsOn Network affiliates support the mobilization of volunteers in ongoing response and recovery efforts.
Do be prepared! Please take steps now to help your family and community recover more quickly from disasters. Visit www.goodandready.org to download an emergency preparedness checklist and create a disaster readiness plan for your family.
For the latest, please follow us on Twitter and check out our updates on Facebook.
