Hands On Disaster Response (Located at Cedar Hills Church) - Through 10/25/08

PROJECT CEDAR RAPIDS VOLUNTEER INFO

*Due to the high level of volunteers already committed to the last 2 weeks of the Project, as of October 10, 2008, Project Cedar Rapids cannot accommodate new group reservations. If you are interested in volunteering in the Cedar Rapids area, please contact the Eastern Iowa Volunteer Reception Center at 319-540-4810.

PROJECT CEDAR RAPIDS VOLUNTEER INFO

Reservation Process

Please carefully review the information provided here. If you are interested in volunteering contact Tom at info@hodr.org to make a reservation and for more information. Include “Iowa” in the subject line.

Contact information on the ground (not for reservations):
Bill – Operations Director 617-922-9444

We are currently set up in Cedar Rapids, IA until October 25, 2008. Cedar Rapids has over 5,000 homes that were affected by flooding. We have also been working in Palo, IA.

The City of Palo is a small community of about 500 homes, 470 of which had flood damage. The people here are welcoming and highly motivated. This is a very warm community eager to get better organized and move forward in the recovery process. If you are thinking about coming to volunteer email Tom at info@hodr.org.

FAQs

Basics
We do not charge a participation fee to volunteer. You get yourself here, and in return we provide shelter, food, and a rewarding and unique volunteer experience. There is no minimum or maximum stay - join us for one day, one week or one month! Typically, we work Mondays through Saturdays. Occasionally, we may run projects on Sundays. You are welcome to volunteer with us even if you choose to stay elsewhere. Our minimum age is 18 years old, unless accompanied by a parent/guardian. Parents, please contact us at info@hodr.org for more information before coming.

Our typical daily schedule is as follows:
7AM - breakfast
8AM - Noon - work
Noon - 1 PM - lunch
1PM - 5:30PM - work
6PM - dinner and nightly “All Hands” meeting

We anticipate running this project until July 22.

What will the work be like?
Hands On’s principal role in Palo is to help to coordinate volunteer forces within the community and organize volunteers to assist. In other words, we will be deeply involved with many levels of work in the community. We aim to create an opportunity for volunteers from outside and within the community to contribute their efforts to meaningful work that furthers Palo and Cedar Rapids in their recovery. We will send volunteer crews out to clear debris and physically help speed up the clean-up and recovery efforts. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty and sweat a bit. The work is hard, but very rewarding.

How do I get there?
Cedar Rapids Airport (CID) is the closest airport and there is a Greyhound terminal, we will pick you up from either…Or roadtrip! We are 2hrs from Des Moines( which has an airport), 4 hrs from Chicago, 5hrs from St. Louis, 4 hrs from Omaha, 4.5hrs from Minneapolis, 4hrs from Milwaukee, 5 hrs from Kansas City. Erideshare.com has set up a Flooding rides share board here. Craigslist may be an option to seek ride shares as well.

What kind of accommodations can I expect?
We are living in a church between Cedar Rapids and Palo that has plenty of floor space for sleeping, kitchen facilities and bathrooms. Showers are available for our use at the YMCA down the road; there is also a shower trailer in Palo. Please check the packing list below to ensure you have what you need to set yourself up comfortably. It is especially important that you bring an air mattress/pad and bedding with you.

Not comfortable with our set-up?
If you would prefer to stay elsewhere, you are still welcome to volunteer with us during the day and be part of our volunteer community - the church is still your base for meals, meetings, hanging out, etc. There are several accommodation options in the area ranging from campgrounds to hotels. You will be responsible for the expenses of your accommodation and will also need to procure transportation to and from our location and your hotel.

What will the weather be like?
The weather is predicted with a high in the mid80s/90 degrees with lows in the mid-60s. And, of course, but hopefully not, there is the chance of rain.

What is the food like?
Breakfast is do-it-yourself; we provide basic food that you can prepare. Lunch will be provided by the Salvation Army. Dinner will be provided for our first week and then we will share cooking duties each night - we will all eat together back at base.

Will I be safe?
Of course precautions need to be taken; as with any travel, you will need to take care and be aware of your surroundings.
How do I call my Mother (or send email)?
Cell phone service is solid and we have a wireless internet connection at the base.

Packing list:
Must bring:
Sleeping Pad or Air Mattress (we do not provide bedding)
Sleeping bag/bedding
N 95 Masks
Work gloves
Sunscreen
Work glasses/ eye protection
Trail/work shoes
Shots BEFORE YOU LEAVE- tetanus
Water bottle
Highly recommended:
Headlamp
Personal items/toiletries
Credit cards/cash
Insect Repellent
Hat
Sunglasses
3 shirts (recommend long-sleeve shirts, 1 w/ collar)
3 pairs pants (at least 2 for work)
1 sweater or sweatshirt
1 warm jacket
SENSE OF HUMOR
Remember, PACK LIGHT!

What can I bring, as a donation, if I have extra room?

A Flat Plasma or LCD TV, preferably above 62 inches.

Hammers and Crow Bars are useful. Gas is also a big expense to get to and from our sites – donation of a gas card would be greatly appreciated by the MCU! Please also consider making a general donation, which will be used to directly fund the projects we’re working on. We also appreciate you sharing your experience with and asking for donations from back home!

What if I forget stuff?
You can buy most anything you need in the area. But it’s a lot less hassle for you (and us) if you bring everything with you.

Anything else I need to know?

It will be dirty, hard work. And that is why we love it!

Ummmmm, is it worth putting up with all of above listed things?
Easy one. Yes.

The reward of helping and seeing the appreciation will far outweigh any potential negatives.

info@hodr.org