Disaster Response Volunteer Opportunities
Georgia, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia
January 2017
Disclaimer
Lutheran Congregational Services provides this information as a resource for those wishing to volunteer for disaster response. It is our hope that this information results in meaningful service opportunities. Please be aware these listings are not volunteer opportunities with Lutheran Disaster Response-Eastern Pa. Neither Lutheran Congregational Services nor Lutheran Disaster Response-Eastern Pa assumes liability for your participation in any of these opportunities.
NEW JERSEY
Information on work sites in NJ:
St. Thomas Lutheran Church
Pastors John and Judy Anderson
135 Salmon Road Brick, NJ 08723
(732) 477-5533
Church email:
Volunteer Group Trip Contact: Alex Elefante (609) 864-3539
Cost: $20 per person per day including the day of arrival. Funds should be mailed to the church at least two weeks prior to arrival. Please make checks payable to St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church and put “Volunteer Host Site” in the memo line. There will be a $20 key security deposit upon arrival. The deposit will be returned when the keys are turned in before departure. Two set of keys will be issued to your group upon your arrival.
Food: A welcome meal will be provided. All other food and cooking must be done by the group. If the group decides to bring a person to make and serve meals they will be able to stay free.
Capacity: Total of 24 people.
Camp Evans Volunteer Host Site
Host Site Coordinator – Joy Blazak
2201 Marconi Road
Wall Township, NJ 07719
(609) 802-1034
Host Site email:
Volunteer Group Trip Contact: Alex Elefante (609) 864-3539
Cost: $20 per person per day including the day of arrival. A 50% deposit is due at the time of booking – You will be invoiced via email. Please be advised that we are asking for payment in full for your team before your arrival so that we will be able to hold specific dates open at our facility. Please make checks payable to: InfoAge/Volunteer Housing. Mail to: Camp Evans Volunteer Housing Attn: Joy Blazak 2201 Marconi Rd. Wall Township, NJ 07719.
Food: All food and cooking must be done by the group.
Capacity: 50 plus.
United Church of Christ – Holmdel (on Hiatus)
Pastor Rusty Eidmann-Hicks
40 West Main Street Holmdel, NJ 07733
(732) 946-8821
Church email:
Volunteer Group Trip Contact: Alex Elefante (609) 864-3539
Cost: $20 per person per day including the day of arrival. Funds should be mailed to the church at least two weeks prior to arrival. Please make checks payable to HCUCC and put “Volunteer Host Site” in the memo line. If possible, please mail funds should be mailed to the church at least one week prior to arrival. Please make checks payable to HCUCC. We would also like a deposit of 1 day per person mailed 1 month in advance if possible. Fees may be paid via check, cash or money order. We do not have credit card ability. There will be a $20 key security deposit upon arrival. The deposit will be returned when the keys are turned in before departure.
Food: Fixings for breakfast will be provided. You are free to use our kitchen. Lunch fixings will be available for you to make a brown bag lunch. Dinner will be served at 6:30 pm on the first and last night. Details to be supplied on arrival. If anyone has special dietary restrictions, please let us know in advance and be prepared to bring some of your own food.
Capacity: Total of 12 people.
SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina United Methodist Church Disaster Recovery
Work Needed: Wide range of work available: I.E – Roofing, flooring, dry-wall, siding, porch, painting, etc…
Accommodations: Housing is provided, meals are not included.
Minimum Age: 14
Tools: It is best if you bring your own tools based on the job description given by your assigned Construction Supervisor.
Cost: Small registration fee / donation is optional but greatly appreciated to help offset the cost of housing for churches.
If you are a team leader and would like to register your team with the South Carolina United Methodist Church Disaster Recovery to assist with the rebuilding of homes please contact Sara McCutchen at or call 803-888-3051.
St. Bernard Project, Columbia, SC
Work Needed: You could be working on a range of projects such as mold remediation, hanging insulation or drywall, mudding/spackling, sanding, texturing, priming, painting, laying floors, and/or hanging trim, doors and baseboard.All of our homes are about 25 mins from Columbia's city center, in either Lexington or Richland County. Sites run from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Age restrictions and requirement: Ages 13 and under: Not allowed to volunteer
Ages 14-15: Parent/guardian must be present on site with minor, and parent/guardian signature on waiver required
Ages 16-17: Parent/guardian signature on waiver required & must work with a chaperone over the age of 18
Accommodations: A list of churches that may be able to host you is available and will be provided by emailing .
Cost: May vary from church to church.
To register online go to http://sbp.formstack.com/forms/sbpsc. Please register as early as possible to ensure your volunteer placements are reserved. A Volunteer Coordinator will contact you within one week after your application is submitted to confirm your registration.
You can also email . Visit the web site at http://www.stbernardproject.org/columbia-south-carolina.html.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance – https://pda.pcusa.org/
There are 3 volunteer housing sites in South Carolina and arrangements vary. The sites are:
Harbor View Presbyterian Church located on James Island, approximately 10 miles from the beach (Folly Beach) and 10 minutes from downtown historic Charleston. Most of the greater Charleston area can be reached with 30 minutes.
Lake Murray Presbyterian Church, 30 minutes from Columbia. The Disaster Relief Coordinator is Cynthia Shepard, (803) 556-2440 (mobile), .
First Presbyterian/Trinity Methodist, SC Flood Disaster Ministry, Sumter
For more information, reference handbooks, and to book a Mission Trip please register work teams by calling the Eden Robert at the PDA Call Center 866-732-6121 or email .
Beach Castles,a mission programthrough First Presbyterian Church of Myrtle Beach, SC is hosting volunteers. Each summer First Presbyterian Church offers youth, college students, and adults mission trip sponsorships. Forseveral weeks during May, June, July, and August, mission teams from churches across the United States have the opportunity to gather and do mission work together inthe Myrtle Beach Community. These mission groups work on disaster relief, in the Racepath community, and in the Habitat for Humanity community of Hopes Crossing, providing assistance to families with home improvement needs in Horry County.
If your group or organization would like to participate in our Beach Castles Mission,please contactCamThomas , 843.448.4496. Minimum age 6thgrade. Maximum team size usually 25; but call FPC if your team is larger, because special arrangements might be possible.
TENNESSEE and GEORGIA
If you would like to help in Gatlinburg, TN or Savannah, GA please contact Southeastern Synod Disaster Volunteer Management Coordinator, Ellen Koester at either r615-838-5550to register or to learn more information.
The Rev. Laura Shally is coordinating the Southeastern Synod's disaster recovery efforts in Sevier County and Gatlinburg, TN following the wildfires that began in late November 2016. Our Savior Lutheran Church in Gatlinburg will house volunteers for the long term recovery. Our Savior will also be a site for emotional/spiritual care as well as hosting disaster recovery support groups. As of December 20, 2016 it is reported that 263 families are still displaced from the fires. This does not include those who have found housing with friends and family. Over 200 work orders are waiting for volunteers to help. The need for assistance will be great in the coming weeks and months.
In Savannah, GA Pastor Jim Nelson, Deacon Allison Ward, Jim Ward and Al Kates, Disaster Response Coordinator for Lutheran Services of Georgia, are hard at work gathering others to begin the work of long term recovery after the damage from Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. Holy Spirit, Savannah is preparing to host volunteers.
The Southeast Synod also continues to support the long term recovery in Mississippi following damage from the March 2016 floods.
TENNESSEE
All Hands Volunteers
On November 28, a fire that began in the Great Smoky Mountains was pushed into Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge by wind gusts of up to 90mph. The flames burned down hundreds of homes and left 14 people dead, 17 firefighters injured, 14,000 residents homeless and over 1,476 homes have been destroyed. Our immediate response team is on the ground helping Gatlinburg with the unfolding disaster. To volunteer go to www.hands.org. All Hands provides:
1. three simple meals on work days; 2. basic accommodation; 3. All the necessary support and logistics for you to have a positive and productive volunteer experience.
WEST VIRGINIA
June 23, 2016 severe flooding hit West Virginia. 23 people died and thousands of homes destroyed. Forty-four of fifty-five counties were declared a state of emergency as 8-10 inches of rain fell in 12 hours.
Community Lutheran Partners is responding to the flooding as the local Lutheran Disaster Response affiliate. Executive Director Sherri Shafer will begin making arrangements for teams who would like to come to the state starting in mid-September. Email her at if you are interested in working with her to coordinate a volunteer work team. Teams must have a leader with construction experience.
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