Ready Responders are volunteers who are on the front line caring for their neighbors and community members, they too must be trained and protected. These individuals make up grassroots organizations that step in and provide support to underserved, high risk communities. To these overlooked individuals, community volunteers and organization are their only hope to receive help.
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio recently announced that the city would begin focusing more resources to help the growing number of people who have lost their jobs because of COVID-19 and are now unsure of where their next meal will come from. “This is a whole new front opening up,” said the mayor, “and we have to be there for people who need food.”
This also means an increase in disaster volunteers who will be going door to door to deliver essentials. It is our obligation to ensure these caregivers have access to and the knowledge to use personal protective equipment. “Can you imagine what would happen if these caregivers visited a COVID-19 positive person with out PPE? This puts not only the caregiver at risk but everyone they serve and their families. We have to do what we can to stop the spread and protect those that are putting themselves on the front lines” said Lisa Orloff, World Cares Centers founder.
World Cares Center (WCC) is doing just that. For two decades World Cares Center has responded to disasters in the U.S. and all over the world. We are now on the front lines combating the COVID-19 crisis in our own backyard. With a surge in demand for its disaster preparedness expertise, WCC is delivering real-time guidance and an active network of volunteers to assist underrepresented grassroots groups in the New York metro area as they struggle to help their communities cope with the pandemic.
We are also focusing on our “hyperlocal” volunteer organization partners to educate their constituents, helping those communities to dramatically reduce exposure and risk. World Cares Centers is delivering free PPE with Just in Time Training, Free online COVID-19 training www.disastervolunteerismacademy.org and a virtual emergency operations center www,readyersponders.org
World Cares Center’s partners are making a difference and World Cares Center is protecting them as they do so. Some of these partners include:
The International Chaplains of America, Inc., working with their local community leaders to distribute bags of food to individuals who have been affected financially by COVID-19. WCC thanks ICA for providing Spanish translation services to ensure our Spanish speakers have access to training as well.
New York State Chaplain Task Force is volunteering at food pantries and delivering food to many in our vulnerable and low-income populations. Together with WCC and NYSCTF are preparing to launch a Compassion Line — a 24/7 hotline available to anyone feeling anxious, afraid, hopeless and needing to talk and/or pray. Stay tuned for more.
Southeast Queens and Rockaway Mutual Aid Group is serving the elderly and those who are homebound, in the one of the hardest hit areas, Far Rockaway. They are providing door-to-door services to community members who are not able to provide for themselves. These services include checking in on them to ensure they have daily necessities such as food and medications. WCC also has provided the members of this organization with PPE, so that they can protect themselves as they themselves help others.
Bringing the Peace is supporting marginalized communities in the Bronx. The members are going door-to-door delivering food to homebound seniors, as well as providing spiritual care, emotional support and additional services that may otherwise not be available to those they are serving. This is another organization that would not have access to PPE through traditional channels.
Other organizations WCC has provided PPE and Just in Time training for include: Firehouses across the 5 boroughs of NYC and New Jersey, White Plains Hospital, Staten Island University Hospital North, Iglesia Sol de Justicia, The Bowery Mission, AHS | Morristown Medical Center, ICNA Relief, Albert Einstein Hospital, A Very Special Place, Foster Sundry, Bailey Seton Hospital, Golden Gate Rehab, CPC, Hearth at Gardenside,
To date, WCC have distributed and donated 22,000 N95 respirators, coveralls, and gloves to those on the front lines including responders, healthcare workers and volunteers going door to door to help those that need assistance. We will continue to coordinate with disaster responders and organizations that will not be on the list to receive PPE when stockpiles are replenished; and provide COVID-19 safety training to disaster volunteers so that they know how to care for themselves while caring for others.
Visit us www.worldcares.org
Get Trained www.disastervolunteerismacademy.org
Join the Conversation www.readyresponders.org
