Volunteer Reception Center Opens to Assist in Harvey Recovery Effective Volunteer Coordination Crucial for Rebuilding Success

Points of Light, with support of its local affiliate Volunteer Houston, is standing up a disaster recovery team and opening a Volunteer Reception Center at Harris County Precinct One’s Finnigan Park Community Center, 4900 Providence Street, Houston, Texas 77020, where it is currently signing up volunteers to help with the Hurricane Harvey recovery. The VRC provides a central location for the public to learn about and sign up for volunteer opportunities throughout the area.

“It is all about neighbor helping neighbor,” said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. “Volunteers immediately came together during the search and rescue efforts and now they are stepping up to help rebuild their communities.”

Harris County, the City of Houston and Points of Light’s Houston disaster recovery team are working together to help coordinate volunteer opportunities that will speed up recovery efforts in the area. Volunteers are integral in every disaster and are core to a community’s recovery. Volunteer management and training is fundamental to community rebuilding efforts and resilience. Points of Light’s team will coordinate, train and deploy volunteers into roles that meet critical community need.

Points of Light has a more direct connection with the Houston community because it is home to the organization’s founder, President George H. W. Bush, and his family.

“A half mile from my home an entire neighborhood, like so many communities near a bayou, was flooded. But just down the street we found inspiration. A neighborhood darkened by flood damage was shining with the bright light of neighbors helping neighbors,” said Neil Bush, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Points of Light. “Times of disaster are devastating but they also remind us of the spirit of compassion that binds the fabric of our nation together. I’m proud that Points of Light and Volunteer Houston are able to harness this spirit of compassion for direct impact in our community.”

Community recovery is dependent on the strength of the voluntary sector to identify and meet acute needs of survivors who face loss of a home or possibly the loss of their livelihoods, and volunteers will take on the majority of tasks required to help communities get back on their feet in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.

“Our community’s resilience is directly impacted by the work that volunteers are doing in our communities,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “This center will provide a central location for ensuring their skills, talents, and time are effectively used.”

At the VRC, volunteers will:

• Register
• Participate in a safety briefing
• Receive volunteer assignments for the day
• Help make a difference in the lives of Houstonians

Volunteers can also go to www.volunteerhou.org/drm/needs to register and sign up.

Contact:
Cameron Waldner, [email protected], (713) 899-4349
Meghann Gibbons, [email protected], (404) 979-2920