WCC Volunteers You Can Count On for the Long Haul
For some WCC volunteers, what started out as “pitching in” on weekends to cleanup and muck out homes in the months right after Hurricane Sandy, has become a long-term commitment to help homeowners rebuild. Homes have been gutted, cleaned out, and treated for mold, but many are in a waiting period while they ensure that mold does not regrow. There are many decisions that need to be made to rebuild, and as the number of volunteers has declined, we at World Cares Center have taken steps to make sure that our volunteer corps are replenished. We do this by supporting our volunteers - making sure their long-term well-being is protected through appropriate training, self-care support, and organized communication systems that make the most of their efforts.
Our volunteers are resilient, supportive, and intelligent, and they spread their spirit and humanity by showing up each and every week in the Rockaways, Staten Island, and Brooklyn. We thank them for their time, their devotion, and their willingness to continue through an often stressful and difficult decision-making process to support community rebuilding.
Who are these long-term volunteers? What makes them keep coming back? How can we ensure that we nurture their needs? Where can we find more of them to support our work?
We recently interviewed two of our most valuable long-term volunteers, Reggie from the Bronx, and Kevin from Manhattan. Here’s what they told us about their volunteer experiences.
WCC: How did you first get involved as a volunteer with WCC?
Reggie: I started a week after Hurricane Sandy. My aunt’s friend knew WCC founder Lisa Orloff and put me in touch with her. I grew up in the Bronx, but felt inclined to help anywhere in the City.
Kevin: I surfed in the Rockaways and started volunteering with another group right after Sandy to help that community. Sometime after Thanksgiving, when that group’s work was done, I started volunteering with WCC. I work every weekend in the Rockaways.
WCC: What is your typical role on the volunteer team?
Reggie: My initial role was as a team lead for a muck out crew. I now serve as an Incident Commander (director and manager of volunteer efforts in an emergency response).
Kevin: I do what needs to be done that day. It could be leading a team, doing briefings or home assessments, and getting the tools ready for the day’s work. I have a background in construction.
WCC: How do you contribute most to the team in terms of your skills and expertise?
Reggie: I believe I contribute most because of my ability to organize and manage others under pressure and in chaotic situations.
Kevin: I provide another voice and some insight, providing another set of ears to bounce ideas off of. Because I’ve worked with other organizations, I’ve been able to see what works over time, streamlining the volunteer effort.
WCC: What changes have you seen in the volunteerism for the Sandy recovery effort as it moves into the long-term recovery phase?
Reggie: Unfortunately, we have seen a decline in the number of volunteers offering assistance. I most definitely believe the long-term recovery phase is different. Earlier relief efforts made more of a psychological impact, letting homeowners know that they were not alone and could be helped. The mucking out was step one. These homes, when ready, need to be rebuilt - and they need to be rebuilt taking their proximity to the shore into consideration.
Kevin: In early November we had many more volunteers each day and on the weekends. Since Thanksgiving, the number of volunteers has dropped. There is a consistent core of volunteers who show up every week, but the overall number of volunteers, especially from other regions, has dropped off.
WCC: How do you make sure that you take care of yourself?
Reggie: For me, it's all about balance. I make sure that I rest to combat the work hours, and I do something with a different type of engagement to balance the psychological energy put forth.
Kevin: I just got back from a vacation that I planned long before Sandy. It was good to get away. Part of my stress reduction happens as a result of just being friends with other volunteers. We all try to see the lighter side of things and make each other laugh through a tough situation. Everyone out there is so interesting to meet.
WCC: What has long-term volunteerism given you? How has it changed your life and how have you changed the lives of others?
Reggie: Being committed long-term has somewhat embedded the volunteer life into me. It went from my "weekend gig" to part of my being. I think folks who know me and have seen my commitment realize they too need to give. "To whom much is given much is required."
Kevin: It has given me confidence to lead large groups of people and to know that I have skills that are needed, even skills I didn’t know I had. Anyone who comes out has something to contribute (skilled labor, communication skills). A few people have started to rebuild and move on with their lives. That is nice to see as you continue your work on other homes in the area.
