Coronavirus: Clark County organizations establish virtual Volunteer Resource Center

Kerry Lee Pedraza, executive director of the United Way of Clark County. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Kerry Lee Pedraza, executive director of the United Way of Clark County. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

The Clark County Combined Health District, the Clark County Emergency Management Agency and the United Way of Clark, Champaign and Madison Counties have established a virtual Volunteer Resource Center for residents looking to volunteer during the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a joint statement from the organizations.

The resource center connects residents able and willing to volunteer to areas where volunteers are needed, the statement said.

“Our local United Way has been coordinating with EMA for years, developing a plan for volunteering if a disaster hits our county,” UWCCMC executive director Kerry Pedraza said. “While this is a unique situation, we are prepared and have a plan to help our community in an efficient and safe manner.”

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Lisa D’Allessandris, director of the Clark County EMA, said a centralized location for managing, identifying, registering and tracking those interested in volunteering needed to be established during the coronavirus pandemic.

“In response, the Clark County COVID-19 Volunteer Response Center has been created to virtually register and manager volunteers,” the statement said.

Once registered, those interested in volunteering are matched with potential volunteer opportunities with the EMA or the Medical Reserve Corps, the statement said.

The Medical Reserve Corps is a long-established volunteer group that utilizes trained and licensed medical personnel to areas where additional medical personnel are needed. However, non-medical volunteers are also needed for administrative roles, transportation and delivery and other general duties, the statement said.

“You don’t need to be a health care worker,” the statement said. “In addition to calling on physicians, nurses and other medical professionals who may be retired, we need community members to help out at food banks, food deliveries to the elderly and at shelters and other very necessary jobs.”

Volunteers will also be sent “where they are most need and feel comfortable.”

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“The volunteer process is centralized so that we have a clear picture of everyone who can help and everything that we need. That way, we can make sure to offer you the opportunity to service in the place that needs you and your skillset the most,” the statement said.

To become a registered volunteer, residents must be 18 or older. Those interested can create an account on Volunteers United at uwccmc.org/volunteer and follow the instructions under "2020 Clark County COVID-19 Volunteer."

If residents have any questions or would like further information, they can contact the UWCCMC at 937-324-5551 or volunteer@uwccmc.org.

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