Lending a Hand
Though
tragic and devastating, disasters often ignite good will
and resolve in our human spirit. People become consumed
with compassion and are eager to dedicate their time, energy
and resources to helping victims rebound and recover. Though
well intentioned, mass donations of food, clothing and
other supplies can overwhelm disaster stricken areas if
not handled in an orderly manner. So here are some suggestions
to consider when lending a hand to disaster victims:
Financial Donations
The
fastest and easiest way to help during a disaster is with
cash. Financial donations help avoid the complicated,
costly and time-consuming process of collecting, sorting,
packing, transporting, unloading, resorting, storing,
repacking and distributing unsolicited goods. Reputable
volunteer agencies are in a better position to purchase
what people need or can provide vouchers for people to
purchase what they need. Also, financial contributions
to recognized relief agencies are tax deductible. - If you want your donations to stay in your local community, financial contributions make sense. Often, the volunteer agency will spend the money in the local disaster area and help the local economy get back on its feet.
- After a disaster strikes, please monitor local news media for information regarding making a financial donation that directly aids Nashvillians in need. The Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management has plans in place to direct the community in the event of an actual emergency.
Goods
and Services
- Before collecting goods to send to a disaster site, find a reliable relief organization willing to accept the shipment of donated items.
- During a disaster, only donate food, clothing and other goods and services if solicited. Under normal circumstances, individual donations of food, clothing, furniture and other supplies have the greatest impact when they are donated to local charitable organizations within your local community.
- Many of the experienced volunteer agencies involved with disaster relief have toll-free numbers for the public to call in order to learn what kind of donated items might be needed in the disaster area. Please refrain from attempting to donate or drop off items that are not needed.
- If a large-scale disaster occurs in our area, the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management would work with designated volunteer agencies to coordinate donated goods and services and matching local needs. Monitor local news media for key information on how to help after a disaster.
Donating Blood
- The American Red Cross continues to need your support as it provides relief to victims of local, national and international disasters. To find out how and where you can donate blood, visit www.givelife.org or call 1-800-Give-Life (1-800-448-3543).
Volunteer
Opportunities
- Following a disaster or community emergency, the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management would notify local news media of how you could volunteer to help the community get back on its feet. Also, there are several organizations that provide training to people who want to help communities recovery following a disaster or major emergency.
- TN Volunteer Mobilizer (Public Health Volunteers) This is a website for those individuals who are interested in becoming a Public Health volunteer for the regional health office located in your area. This system will be utilized by Public Health to contact volunteers in the event of an accidental or intentional emergency, or other public or health care disaster. https://thanvolunteer.health.state.tn.us/Login.aspx
- Middle TN Medical Reserve Corp (MRC) This is volunteer organization that is housed in the National Center for Emergency Preparedness (NCEP) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The Medical Reserve Corps is an important component of the Citizen Corps program. The Middle TN MRC is one of over 600 MRC's that are currently serving their communities across America. http://www.mtmrc.org/