United Way of Tampa Bay Disaster Services Volunteer Survey
Please review all of the possible volunteer positions that we have identified to help out in the case of a major hurricane or disaster. If you have any questions about the options, contact Sheri Taylor at
staylor@uwtb.org
Select all you are interested in.
211 Call Center Operator:
2-1-1 in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties will utilize volunteers post disaster to assist those individuals affected by the event. Call Center disaster volunteers will provide information and referral and crisis intervention services on health and human service issues as well as information and referral for disaster and donation opportunities. Volunteers must attend a 1.5 day training session.
Point of Distribution Worker:
Citizens needing water, ice or ready-to-eat meals will drive through a Point of Distribution (POD) where volunteers will pull water/ice/meals from pallets and load into a vehicle. Must be able to lift and work in the heat. Please wear a hat and closed-toed shoes and bring sunscreen. On the job training will be conducted. Volunteers will be assigned to the POD location closest to their home when possible.
Donations Warehouse Worker:
Volunteers will assist in receiving, sorting, and palletizing donations from outside communities at a donations warehouse. Volunteers will assist in the filling of donations requested from impacted organizations. Licensed forklift operators needed. Must be able to lift. On the job training will be provided.
Volunteer Reception Center Worker:
Volunteers will be trained for two hours on how to set-up and run a Volunteer Reception Center (VRC). The VRC's are where volunteers will go to register, receive safety training and volunteer assignments post disaster.
Child Care Provider:
Following 1.5 days of intensive training, return of two personal references, and a criminal background check months before a disaster hits, volunteers are certified to provide daytime childcare while parents or friends complete paperwork at a disaster center, return home to aid in cleanup, or tend to other follow-up responsibilities. In the childcare center, supplies in a Kit of Comfort (large suitcase) provide educational and therapeutic tasks that help children of all ages adjust to the trauma they have experienced. For detailed information regarding this training, contact Children's Disaster Services, 1-800-451-4407 #5.
Translator/Signer:
If you speak Spanish, French, Creole, Vietnamese, or can serve as a signer for the hearing impaired, you will be asked to attend a two hour volunteer orientation and be pre-assigned to organizations seeking this assistance or be asked to report to a Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) closest to your home for post-disaster deployment.
Assistant Bus Driver:
Assist Sunshine Line bus drivers transporting special needs patients and individuals to shelters by helping clients board the van with their personal belongings, and assist in de-boarding and settling into the shelter. Two hours of training on working with special needs populations will be required.
American Red Cross Feeding Service Associate:
Volunteers will provide services such as fixed site or mobile feeding in impacted communities for American Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles. Two days of training and a background check will be required.
American Red Cross Mass Care Shelter Service Associate:
As a shelter team associate, you will provide American Red Cross service around the clock to support shelter evacuees. Additionally, shelter teams coordinate shelter supplies and equipment as needed. One day of training and a background check will be required.
American Red Cross Disaster Action Team Associate:
Volunteers respond to calls for assistance and meet the needs of disaster victims. As an Action Team Associate you may be called to duty for single-family disasters, such as a home fire, or community-wide disasters. You will initiate interviews and complete necessary reports related to the incident or victim assistance. Flexible schedules are available on an on-call basis. Four days of training and a background check will be required.
Special Needs Shelter Worker:
As a special needs shelter volunteer, you will be supporting trained medical staff. Your responsibilities can include anything from assisting individuals with incontinence to holding the hand of an Alzheimer's patient. You will be staying in the shelter for the duration of the disaster through shelter closing. A three hour training is required.
Office Aide to Nonprofits:
You will be required to attend a two hour orientation and job skills assessment then pre-assigned to support a registered agency closest to your home. Jobs may include answering phones, making copies, making deliveries, maintaining volunteer schedules, data entry and other various administrative duties.
Debris Removal:
You will be required to attend a two hour volunteer orientation. Post disaster assignments will depend upon scope of impact and geographic location of impact nearest you. Jobs may include tree removal, debris removal, damaged property, fence, and screen removal. You will be required to sign a release of liability and assigned a volunteer mission assignment number based on Emergency Management volunteer requests.
Community Needs Assessment:
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) has been known internationally for their ability to canvass communities and assess the total damage suffered in a disaster-impacted home. The assessment includes losses other than structural damage and requires a full day of training. Trainers will then be recruited to train additional teams and trainers to provide post disaster assessments and work with existing CRWRC teams.
Repair of Disaster Damaged Homes:
You will be required to attend a two hour orientation and skills assessment and be asked to sign releases of liability to perform home repairs to include tarp placement, roof repair, and interior repair to disaster damaged homes. Volunteer teams of no more than eight are preferred for this volunteer opportunity. This is a long-term volunteer opportunity.
Disaster Recovery Center Worker:
You will be required to attend a 2.5 hour training on Insurance, FEMA and SBA policies and pass a test given at the end of the training. You will also be required to sign an Agreement of Confidentiality. Assignments will be made post disaster to Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) operating nearest you. This opportunity can extend beyond DRC activation and transferred to local long-term recovery organizations supporting your communities.
Shelter is Golden Host Volunteer:
After completing a Host Enrollment Form, you will be required to attend a 90-minute orientation outlining host housing, back ground checks, host and evacuee matching as well as confidentiality concerns. For more information, please call 813-653-5239.
HAM Radio Operator:
If you are a current HAM radio operator and are interested in disaster volunteer operator opportunities, please register with us. We will put you in touch with HAM coordinators. If you are interested in becoming a HAM operator, there are manuals and online practice tests to help you secure an entry level license. If you need assistance securing a license, please register with us. We will put you in touch with our HAM partners for assistance.
First Name
Last Name
Phone Number- with Area Code
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An email confirmation from United Way confirming your selection(s), will be sent upon completion of this form. No private information will be sent to you in the email.
Are you a Hands on Tampa Bay (HOT) volunteer?
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Comments or Questions
Thank You for your interest in volunteering for United Way of Tampa Bay.
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