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Community ImpactVolunteerCatastrophic events, like the record hurricane season of 2004, bring out the best in most people. Residents of our community were compelled to step forward and help in the aftermath. United Way of Brevard was quick to respond following the battery of storms in 2004 by helping coordinate and staff water and ice distribution sights for the Brevard Emergency Operations Center (EOC). United Way also helped answer calls at 2-1-1 and the EOC. Through the success of our work in 2004, United Way now has an agreement with the County to manage and operate five Centralized Points of Distribution (CPOD) sites. In addition to this new relationship with the County, United Way realized the need for increased advance preparation, including improved recruitment and training of volunteer efforts for disaster relief. To address these issues in 2005, United Way launched the Volunteer Corps Initiative. This initiative has been a success due to the involvement of the Brevard County EOC, 2-1-1 Brevard and the American Red Cross. To date more than 100 volunteers have been recruited, many of which have been trained for services including water and ice distribution, phone assistance at 2-1-1 and emergency shelter service. The Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) is a centralized location that will not only deploy the current Volunteer Corps, but provide an efficient mechanism for volunteers to be connected with local responders and emergency relief organizations after a disaster strikes. The planned location for the VRC will be the American Red Cross in Rockledge, with United Way's office as the alternate location. If you're interested in joining United Way of Brevard's Volunteer Corps or being trained to work at the Volunteer Reception Center, please contact Liz Lee.
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