Disaster Services
As stated in the North Carolina Emergency Operations Plan, The Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (VolunteerNC) is the lead organization supporting the NC Emergency Management (NCEM) with donations and volunteer management activities during activation, including donated goods and cash. Our disaster programs operate in three of the four phases of the disaster cycle.
Preparedness activities are performed throughout the year. In this role we support with the recruitment and training of Community Emergency Response (CERT) groups and we attend yearly hurricane preparedness expos across our state, as well as we host disaster preparedness trainings.
During the Response Phase, our office follows the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) activation, as we are part of the State Emergency Respond Team. In this phase our role is to
- Manage unaffiliated volunteers, unsolicited donations, and undesignated monetary donations.
- Appoint the State Donations Management Coordinator
- Develop the public messaging for donations and volunteer needs
- Activate the NC disaster relief fund
- Help manage the platform used for donations and volunteer management, NeedsList.
- Support with the management of the scheduler polls to help coordinate volunteer shifts for state shelters
Once the response phase is over, we immediately transition to support in the recovery phase. The activities we perform in this phase include,
- Ensure all donations are distributed among recovery organizations supporting the impacted communities.
- Assist with NeedsList registration, training, and troubleshooting issues.
- Remain cognizant of the disaster the community needs to support in addressing these needs
Who are our partners?
We understand we cannot accomplish our mission alone. For this reason, we partner with nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and governmental and private entities. We work closely with the North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and its members.
NeedsList is a resource-matching platform that allows relief organizations to post relevant needs and offers. The platform can automatically match resources and needs, allowing immediate coordination for the exchange of the goods and services. The NeedsList platform is the product of a collaboration between the North Carolina Organizations Active in Disaster (NCVOAD) and VolunteerNC, funded by the Duke Energy Foundation.
More Resources
Urgent Volunteer Opportunities
Food Banks
Seven regional Food Banks provide food to pantries all over the state. With the onset of the pandemic, the need for food for the hungry is greater than ever - 1 in 5 adults, 1 in 4 children are food insecure. Join us in Feeding the Carolinas!
Prepare, Pack & Deliver Food
County | Organization |
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Anson County | Anson Crisis Ministry |
Chatham County | Chatham Outreach Alliance (CORA) |
Craven County | RCS New Bern |
Durham County | Feeding Durham Together |
Edgecombe County | |
Forsyth County | Forsyth HandsOn |
Guilford County | The Volunteer Center |
Jones County | The Filling Station |
Mecklenburg County | |
Nash County | Touch of the Father's Love |
Orange County | Various Food Packing and Delivery Opportunities |
Rowan County | Jeannie's Kitchen - Prepare & Serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Please contact Cheryl Linder, Kitchen Manager 704-637-6838, ext. 108, if you can help. |
Wake County | Wake County Food Security and Access Volunteer Form Senior food and medicine delivery |
Yancey County | Feed a Child Yancey |
Meals on Wheels
County | More Information |
---|---|
Chatham County | Meals on Wheels |
Cherokee County | Deliver meals in Andrews. The route takes about an hour to complete. Contact 828-837-2467 with questions. |
Cumberland County | Meals on Wheels & other services |
Currituck County | Helping Hands delivering meals |
Durham County | Meals on Wheels |
Edgecombe/ Nash County | Meals on Wheels |
Lee County | Meals on Wheels |
Orange County | Meals on Wheels |
Polk County | Meals on Wheels immediate need |
Richmond County | Meals on Wheels 5-7 volunteers needed |
Rockingham County | Meals on Wheels |
Rowan County | Meals on Wheels |
Stanly County | Contact DSS to volunteer |
Stokes County | Immediate need in Walnut Cove and Danbury |
Transylvania County | Contact Pam McCall 828-862-4466 or 828-553-7469 |
Tyrrell County | Meals on Wheels |
Union County | Meals on Wheels |
Wake County | Meals on Wheels - urgently needed |
Washington County | Meals on Wheels |
Wayne County | Meals on Wheels |
Wilson County | Meals on Wheels |
Yancey County | contact Teresa or Jackie at 828-682-6011 |
NC Education Corps - mentors and tutors apply now
Moore County Literacy Council -Volunteer at outdoor reading stations. Email Heather heather@mcliteracy.org for more information.
Virtual volunteer for Chapel Hill Carrboro Schools.
Volunteer for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools.
Volunteer for Orange County Schools.
Heart Math Tutoring is recruiting tutors to work one-on-one with students on their foundational math skills and confidence. Both in-person and virtual tutoring available.
Shelter and Reception Centers
Hurricane Shelters will need reception centers and shelter workers in greater numbers. Sign up to receive online training information.
To hear about pressing volunteer opportunities, sign up above.
Recovery Is Ongoing
Hurricane and Flood recovery is ongoing and VOAD organizations need volunteers from all backgrounds and levels of experience. Sign up directly with the organizations.
Get Trained Before the Next Disaster
ReserveCorps
Depending upon the disaster and individual abilities, volunteers could be preventing further damage to homes, running a volunteer center, supporting mass care, managing crisis calls etc. All willing residents, especially veterans and AmeriCorps alums, are encouraged to register and get trained before a natural disaster strikes. Register for updates about future trainings using this form.
Background checks may be required prior to deployment as required by the ReserveCorps partnering organizations.
CERT
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area, and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization the professional responders can rely on during disaster situations. CERT volunteers can also help with non-emergency projects that help make their communities safer and more resilient. CERT programs welcome individuals of all abilities. CERT Training takes a total of approximately 20-30 hours.
For more information, and to see a complete list of current CERT programs in NC, please visit: ReadyNC.org.
Attorney & Paralegal Training
Watch the recorded continuing legal education presentations at the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center’s Disaster Legal Services Bootcamp for attorneys and paralegals wanting to help following a natural disaster.
Remote Volunteer Opportunities
Location | Opportunity |
---|---|
Statewide | Attorney volunteers needed with Legal Aid of North Carolina |
Statewide | Write notes of encouragement to participants of substance abuse programs; letters can be sent via email or mailed to: Healing Transitions |
Statewide | Healthcare navigator for insurance help |
Statewide | MasksNOW - needs donations of quilting cotton and t-shirt fabric to make mask kits for sewists, as well as other volunteer needs. |
Various Locations | Sew face masks for various organizations:
|
Chatham County | Chatham opportunities from anywhere |
Charlotte | Share Charlotte opportunities from anywhere |
Forsyth County | Hands On Northwest covid opportunities |
Greensboro | Online tutoring |
Guilford County | Wellness check calls to older adults in Guilford County |
Haywood, Jackson counties | Wellness check calls in Haywood and Jackson counties; call 828-356-2833 |
Hickory | Write cards to nursing homes |
Wake County | Kindness calls to seniors in Wake County |
NC Disaster Relief Fund
The Office of the Governor recognizes the desire of many individuals, groups, corporations, and philanthropic organizations to help others whose lives have been affected by a disaster. Many nonprofit voluntary organizations active in disaster response and recovery efforts encourage individuals to make financial donations to be used to help meet the needs of survivors, rather than donating products that may – or may not – be needed. Financial donations can be used to support specific needs and help communities recover more quickly by supporting the local economy.
For this reason, the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund (NCDRF) was established in 1999 to help raised funding to support communities affected by a disaster. The initial purpose of the NCDRF was to ensure survivors received help with immediate needs that were not covered by FEMA or other state, federal or nonprofit programs. Through an established process, NCDRF awards grant funding to member organizations of NC Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NCVOAD) who are engaged in long-term recovery efforts. The United Way of North Carolina serves as a fiscal agent and is responsible for the administration and distribution of the funds.
What sets this relief fund apart from many others is that no administrative fees or overhead costs are charged to NCDRF, so 100% of each donation is distributed to meet the needs of survivors.
The NCDRF is activated only after a significant weather event, including hurricanes, tornadoes, excessive rain resulting in mudslides, forest fires, or any other natural disaster that occurs within or affects the state. When the need to activate the NCDR arrives, information about how to donate will be posted on this page and other state agencies websites.