If a disaster were to hit our community – and you were unharmed – would you volunteer? Volunteering during a disaster is a way to help bring the community back to normalcy and to help friends and neighbors. One way to volunteer during a disaster is to assist in the Disaster VRC – or Volunteer Reception Center.
In the event of a disaster, any “spontaneous” volunteers who arrive at a disaster scene will be directed to the VRC, where they will fill out an application, be interviewed, screened, matched with a volunteer role, and trained before being sent out to the disaster scene.
In partnership with Wood County Emergency Management and the Marshfield Area United Way, United Way of South Wood & Adams Counties’ Volunteer Center will be conducting a VRC training on April 14th from 5:15pm to 8:15pm. The event is open to the public and will be held at the Pittsville Fire Station 5388 4th Ave., Pittsville, WI 54466.
The training will consist of a brief presentation covering VRC operation and volunteer roles, followed by hands on activities to simulate the experience of a different types of emergency responses. Training is required for volunteers to be activated in the event of disaster. New volunteers who complete the training will have the opportunity to join the VRC team.
To register for the training or for more information, please contact Ben Eberlein, Volunteer Center Director at 715-421-0390 or ben@uwswac.org. The deadline to register is April 8, 2022.