To help survivors of recent disasters donate to the Governor's Emergency Relief Fund
Alabama Governor's Office of Volunteer Services
INCREASING THE ETHIC OF SERVICE AND VOLUNTEERISM ACROSS ALABAMA
June 19
Tropical Storm Claudette Recovery Efforts
Disaster Assistance:
Escambia County
If you need help with clean up call 251-867-4091 or 251-314-1442. The East Brewton Court System is taking the information on needs related to storm damage.
For impacted residents, please go to East Brewton Municipal Court (615 Forrest Ave, East Brewton) to pick up needed items.
Open: Monday - Friday 8am – 5pm
Telephone: 251-867-4091 or 251-314-1442
Tuscaloosa County
If you need help with clean up, make sure you report your storm damage to 2-1-1.
For impacted residents of Tuscaloosa County, please go to Temporary Emergency Services (1705 15th Street, Tuscaloosa) to pick up needed items.
If you cannot come during regular business hours, call 205-758-5535.
Disaster Volunteer Opportunities:
Below is a listing of current volunteer needs. Please contact the organizations directly if you are interested in volunteering. Also note that recovery from a disaster often takes a very long time and volunteers will be needed in the weeks, months, and even years ahead.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
VOLUNTEERS: All help and supplies are greatly appreciated. Volunteers should wear closed toe shoes and bring gloves, tools, and water. Restaurant locations are open, some are drive thru only.
The East Brewton Court System is organizing volunteers. To volunteer: Call 251-867-4091or 251-314-1442 Email: ballardlinda40@yahoo.com
TUSCALOOSA COUNTY
Volunteer Reception Center: If you are available to volunteer to help clean up or deliver meals/supplies, report to the Volunteer Reception Center at Church of the Highlands (721 Rice Mine Rd, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406) coordinated by Tuscaloosa's One Place. Spanish-speaking volunteers are needed (must be age 19+).
Donate to Relief Efforts:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Donation Center:
East Brewton Municipal Court
615 Forrest Ave, East Brewton, AL 36427
Open: Monday - Friday 8 am – 5pm
Call 251-867-4091 or 251-314-1442 (text available)
Email: ballardlinda40@yahoo.com
Needs:
-
Gift cards
-
Hand-operated can opener
-
Personal care items (soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, combs, hairbrushes, shampoo, feminine care products, etc.)
-
Household goods: New bedding, towels, washcloths, kitchen items (dishes, pots and pans, etc.)
-
New clothes, underwear, socks, shoes. Used clothing will NOT be accepted
-
Baby products (Diapers, wipes, etc.)
-
Toys of all ages
-
Laundry Detergent
-
Dish washing liquid
-
Flashlights with batteries
-
Plastic totes/lids
-
School supplies
-
Mosquito Spray
-
Rakes and shovels
TUSCALOOSA COUNTY
To donate "immediate needs" supplies (hygiene products, food, diapers, household items, etc.,) drop off at Temporary Emergency Services (1705 15th Street, Tuscaloosa). If you cannot come during regular business hours, call 205-758-5535.
To donate long-term, large items like appliances and furniture, call 2-1-1 and leave your name, contact info and what items you have to donate. Once residents return to their homes, volunteers will move the items directly to the home.
OTHER ASSISTANCE:
2-1-1 is a free, easy to remember number to dial for information about health and human service organizations in your community. Are you facing difficult times and don’t know where to turn? Are you looking for help with everyday needs? Do you want to volunteer? By dialing 2-1-1, information is much easier to find. Dial 2-1-1 or text or call 1-888-421-1266 from anywhere in Alabama, or visit http://www.211connectsalabama.org/
If you are an organization providing resources, please call 2-1-1 or call 1-888-421-1266.
Alabama Department of Mental Health
Disaster Response and Recovery Resources
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) is a coalition of non-profit and faith-based, public and private organizations and agencies that respond to disasters by bringing all available resources together to assist those impacted by disasters. VOADs provide a forum promoting cooperation, communication, coordination and collaboration that fosters a more effective delivery of services to disaster affected communities.
Tuscaloosa County VOAD
205-345-6640
Alabama Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (ALVOAD)
To support those who respond to disasters consider one of the following Alabama Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (ALVOAD) member agencies:
Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief
Baldwin County VOAD
Calhoun County VOAD
Civil Air Patrol Alabama Wing
Coffee County ROCC/VOAD
Compassion Coalition of Tuscaloosa County
Covington County VOAD
Cullman County VOAD
Elmore County VOAD
Etowah County VOAD
Family Guidance Center of Alabama
Good Shepherd UMC
Hope Animal Assisted Crisis Response
Jefferson/Shelby County VOAD
Legal Services of Alabama
Madison County VOAD
Marshall County Commission
Mobile County VOAD
Morgan County VOAD
North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church
Operation Blessing International
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
The Alabama-West Florida Conference United Methodist Church
Tuscaloosa VOAD
United Way of East Central Alabama/1st Call for Help
United Way of Northwest Alabama
United Way of Selma & Dallas County
United Way of Southwest Alabama
Walker County VOAD
Helpful tips for Donating:
-
Cash is best! –This allows relief organizations to purchase exactly what items are needed to assist in the response and recovery efforts. Funds will also provide direct victim assistance.
-
Confirm the Need Before Collecting – Donors should be wary of anyone who claims that “everything is needed.” Many groups have been disappointed that their efforts and the goods they collected were not appreciated. A community hit by disaster, however, does not have the time, manpower or money to sort and dispose of unneeded donations. Get precise information and confirm the need before collecting any donated goods.
Helpful tips for Volunteering:
-
Call 2-1-1 to register to volunteer
-
Affiliate with existing non-profit organizations before coming to the disaster area. Immediately following a disaster, a community can become easily overwhelmed by the amount of generous people who want to help. Contacting and affiliating with an established organization will help to ensure that you are appropriately trained to respond in the most effective way.
-
Be safe: Do not self-deploy until a need has been identified and the local community impacted has requested support. Wait until it is safe to travel to volunteer sites and opportunities have been identified. Once assigned a position, make sure you have been given an assignment and are wearing proper safety gear for the task.
-
Be patient: Recovery lasts a lot longer than the media attention. There will be volunteer needs for many months, often years, after the disaster - especially when the community enters the long-term recovery period.