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Volunteer Opportunities

Register your work team’s interest online or by phone (866) 732-6121

PDA worker measures wood

The blue shirt represents “Out of chaos, Hope”, worn by Presbyterian volunteers around the United States. Photo thanks to Roberta Updegraff.

United States disaster recovery volunteer sites

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) offers short term disaster recovery mission trip opportunities in a variety of locations. PDA’s commitment to long-term recovery means there are volunteers needed in locations that are no longer in the media headlines. Please consider gathering a volunteer work team to help families rebuild and restore their homes, or to do other disaster recovery work. Each site is managed separately; use the contact information listed for questions about work, lodging and other needs.

International volunteers - Haiti

Planning

Tell us your mission story!

Read stories of hope from volunteers and others

Other PC(USA) volunteer opportunities

AL | AZ | AR | FL | GA | IN | LA | MA | MD | MO | ND | NY | PA | SD | TN | TX | WV

Wayside congregations – possible locations for your team to stay overnight while traveling to and from disaster recovery mission sites

In many disaster situations, need for volunteer response is met by local neighbors, and work teams from outside the area are not requested. This listing of volunteer opportunities does not include those communities where the need is being met by local volunteers.

Alabama

Tornado response - rebuilding (Tuscaloosa)
First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa is hosting volunteers in response to the April 2011 tornado.  Work will primarily be rebuilding damaged and destroyed homes. 

  • Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or register your interest online.
  • Minimum age 16; youth to adult ratio: 5 to 1
  • Team size 3-25 volunteers

Please note: First Presbyterian Church Tuscaloosa has partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa (HFHT) in this response, and volunteers hosted by First Presbyterian will be working on HFHT projects. HFHT is requesting an additional donation from each volunteer to help cover a portion of the costs associated with the rebuilding effort. Please discuss this with the PDA Call Center if you are interested in this site.

Tornado response (Birmingham area)
First United Presbyterian Church of Forestdale in Birmingham is hosting volunteers in response to the April 2011 tornado.  Work will include housing repair and construction, in some cases including debris clearing and demolition.

  • Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or register your interest online.
  • Minimum age 16; at least 20 percent of volunteers must be adults

Alaska

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Arizona

Southern Arizona - border ministry

No More Deaths
3809 East 3rd Street
Tucson, AZ 85716

Needs: work in desert camps to reach out to migrants in distress as they cross the desert (food, water, basic medical aid); work at center for recently deported migrants in Nogales, Sonora (food, water, medical aid, abuse documentation)

Volunteers are needed to help with home repairs or recovery efforts that may not be disaster-related.

  • Training provided; minimum age 18 unless accompanied by an adult; Spanish or medical expertise helpful/not essential
  • Opportunity available Memorial Day through September 30

Arkansas

Volunteers needed to process Gift of the Heart Kits

The Ferncliff Disaster Assistance Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, is one of the two processing locations for Church World Service Gift of the Heart Kits. Volunteers inspect kits that come in from churches around the country and help with, receipting, fixing, re-boxing, weighing, labeling, palletizing and shrink wrapping.

Volunteer teams stay (and play) at the Ferncliff Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center. If the team is large, participants may also work with other local mission agencies.

Volunteers are needed to help with home repairs or recovery efforts that may not be disaster-related.

  • Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or register your interest online.
  • Minimum age: high school (1 adult per 5 youth).
  • Possible opportunity for long term individual volunteers or couples (2-3 months).

California

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Colorado

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Connecticut

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Delaware

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

District of Columbia

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Florida

Florida Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Network
Florida Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Network (FLAPDAN) coordinates volunteer opportunities in Florida presbyteries affected by hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding and other natural disasters.

Please contact Kathy Broyard to see what opportunities are available with local rebuilding organizations.

IHOPE — Immokalee's Long Term Disaster Recovery Team

IHOPE office
2050 Commerce Ave, Unit 7
Immokalee, FL 34142

Volunteers are needed to help with home repairs or recovery efforts that may not be disaster-related.

  • Email IHOPE
  • Office (239) 657-3889, fax (239) 657-3885, cell (239) 896-2998
  • Minimum age 14
  • Teams of 3 to 25 people

Georgia

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Hawaii

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Idaho

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Illinois

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Indiana

Flood recovery in Northwest Indiana
Lakeshore Area Regional Recovery of Indiana (LARRI)
9200 Calumet Ave., Suite N-510
Munster, Indiana  46321

LARRI is a long-term recovery committee assisting with repair and rebuilding of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte County homes affected by September 2008 flooding.  With more than 100 homes to repair and rebuild before mid-September 2011, approximately 60 volunteers are needed each day. 

Needs: installation of drywall and flooring; painting; moving materials, supplies, and debris; cooking for volunteers

  • Email Annette Kelsey
  • (219) 836-1325 x121
  • Minimum age 18
  • Individuals welcome – please have reliable transportation

Iowa


No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Kansas

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Kentucky

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Louisiana

Presbytery of South Louisiana’s Project Homecoming
Working in the Greater New Orleans Area, Project Homecoming is rebuilding homes of the uninsured, underinsured, elderly and disabled. Volunteers responding to Hurricane Katrina (2005) are being hosted at the Olive Tree Presbyterian Volunteer Village in New Orleans.

Rebuilding Hope in New Orleans (RHINO)

RHINO is an outreach ministry of St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, working in New Orleans.

 

Maine

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Maryland

Home repair
N.A.I.L.S.
400 N. Mechanic St.
Cumberland, MD 21502

Volunteers are needed to help with home repairs or recovery efforts that may not be disaster-related.

Massachusetts

Tornado and Snow Storm Response

Christ Presbyterian Church is hosting volunteers in response to the June 2011 tornado and October 2011 snow storm in the Springfield, Massachusetts, area.  Work in the early response will be debris clean up; construction and rebuilding will come later. 

  • Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or register your interest online.
  • Age restrictions:  5 to 1 youth to adult ratio; adult workers and supervisors required for minors

Michigan

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Minnesota

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Mississippi

Local volunteers are participating in this response, but at this time work teams outside the area are not requested.  You may register your volunteer work team’s interest online or by contacting the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121.  As specific volunteer needs and details of PDA hospitality sites become available, they will be posted on this website.  Please make note of any specific expertise.

Missouri

Tornado Response
First Presbyterian Church of Joplin is offering their facilities to host volunteers helping with response to the May 2011 tornado. However — at this time — they are not securing work assignments for teams.

Please follow the 2-step directions below to ensure your work team has housing and a work assignment:

  1. Register your team for housing.  Call (866) 732-6121.
  2. Register your team for volunteer opportunities – visit the Rebuild Joplin web page and click on “I want to Volunteer”. 

Montana

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Nebraska

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Nevada

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

New Hampshire

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

New Jersey

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

New Mexico

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

New York

Flood Response – Hurricane Irene/Tropical Storm Lee
First Presbyterian Church of Endicott is hosting volunteers in response to September 2011 flooding caused by Hurricane Irene & Tropical Storm Lee in the Greater Binghamton area. Work in the early response timeframe will be mucking out, tearing out, power washing and sanitizing,  with transitioning to skilled labor later in the process.

  • Email First Presbyterian Church
  • (607) 748-1544
  • Minimum age: high school and older; youth to adult ratio: 5 to 1.
  • Team size: 5-20 volunteers with at least one skilled leader.

First Presbyterian Church of Johnson City is hosting volunteers in response to fall 2011 flooding in the Greater Binghamton area. Work during the early response will be mucking out, with later assistance needed in rebuilding.

North Carolina

Local volunteers are participating in this response, but at this time work teams outside the area are not requested.  You may register your volunteer work team’s interest online or by contacting the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121.  As specific volunteer needs and details of PDA hospitality sites become available, they will be posted on this website.  Please make note of any specific expertise.

North Dakota

Flood response
HOPE Village in Minot, North Dakota, is a multi-denominational hosting site for work teams willing to help clean out and rebuild homes damaged during summer 2011 flooding. 

  • Call (855) 720-9804 to schedule.
  • Minimum age 16 (unless accompanied by a parent).
  • One adult (age 21+) supervisor required per 5 volunteers age 18 or younger.
  • Visit the Hope Village web site for more information on this response.

Spirit Lake Sioux Reservation/Bdecan Presbyterian Church Projects
Bdecan Presbyterian Church, the only Indian Presbyterian Church in North Dakota, is located on the Spirit Lake Sioux Reservation in north central North Dakota. To find out how your team can help, or visit the Lake Region Parish Web site and click on Bdecan Presbyterian Church to find a mission team application. 

Volunteers are needed to help with home repairs or recovery efforts that may not be disaster-related.

Ohio

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Oklahoma

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Oregon

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Pennsylvania

Tropical Storm Lee flooding response

The Presbytery of Lackawanna is hosting volunteer teams in response to September 2011’s Tropical Storm Lee.  Useful skills include general construction, cleaning, painting and installation of sheetrock and flooring.

  • Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or register your interest online.
  • Minimum age 16; one adult age 25 or older per 5 students under 19 years of age.

First Presbyterian Church of Towanda and Trinity Lutheran church are working together to host volunteers in response to flooding caused by Tropical Storm Lee (September 2011).  Volunteers are needed for general construction, cleaning, painting, and installation of sheetrock, drywall and insulation.

Rhode Island

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

South Carolina

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

South Dakota

Oahe Presbyterian Church is hosting volunteer work teams in response to 2011 flooding.  Work in the early response will be mucking out, later transitioning to skilled labor during cold weather. 

Tennessee

Flooding Response
Teams needed for January/February 2012
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Nashville, has been hosting teams in response to spring 2010 flooding.  The work is primarily rebuilding, including painting, framing, and installation of insulation, drywall, floors, fixtures and doors.  WPC tries to use skills such as HVAC, electrical, roofing, etc. when available and needed; there is occasional demolition work. This hosting site is now requesting teams for January and February 2012.

Texas

Hurricanes Dolly and Alex response
First Presbyterian Church of Mission, Texas, is hosting teams willing to help families in the Rio Grande Valley with clean up and rebuilding. Carpentry and plumbing skills are helpful.

A visit and education about the border area can be arranged, depending on schedules.

  • Email Dave Diercksen
  • (956) 585-4829
  • Teams of adults and senior or junior high students with supervision are welcome.

Tornado response
Interfaith Longterm Recovery Committee
First United Methodist Church
571 Quarry St.
Eagle Pass, TX 78852

Needs around Eagle Pass are for home repair - light construction work such as roof shingle repair, sheetrock and painting.

  • Email Monica Rich. If you do not have email access, you may call to leave a message at (830) 773-3208.
  • Mimimum age senior high
  • Teams of 2 or more
  • Skilled and unskilled welcome; construction supervisor on site to assist

Utah

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Vermont

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Virginia

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Washington

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

West Virginia

Flood response
West Virginia Ministry of Advocacy & Workcamps, Inc. (WVMAW)
PO Box 338
Nettie, WV, 26681

Needs: reconstruction of homes and churches

Wisconsin

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

Wyoming

No PC(USA) disaster recovery work team opportunities at this time

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