Bringing Hope

site leaders help make recovery possible

“Week of Compassion is here for the long haul.” “There are partners who will be the first in. Disciples will be the last to leave.” “It’s been years since the storm, and your groups are still here, doing the work that needs to be done.” Long-term recovery is easy to overlook – once the cameras are gone, and the urgency of storm relief subsides, it is the long, slow, careful completion of each step that helps families really recover, that moves families into safe and secure houses, where they can make true homes.

Disaster Site Leaders are the foundation of disaster recovery volunteering.

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These trained leaders serve on mission sites coordinated by Week of Compassion, as liaisons between volunteer teams and rebuild partners; preparing volunteer teams and keeping job sites going; and representing Disciples and our ecumenical partners as part of disaster recovery in a community. Week of Compassion invests deeply in these long-term volunteers, knowing that time, talent, and resources can transform communities in meaningful ways. (Meet some of Week of Compassion’s long-term volunteers in this feature from last year.)

hear from Steve Huston about being a Site Leader

In January, Week of Compassion will host a joint Leadership Training with our partners at Brethren Disaster Ministries. The training is for people who have a heart for service, enjoy working on-site with volunteer groups, and are eager to walk alongside communities recovering from disasters in the U.S. Typically, Site Leaders serve on-site for 3-12 weeks of their choosing (or for single weeks, if local). 

+ REGISTER HERE +

During the training, leaders will learn to support disaster recovery and become certified to lead on-site projects with Week of Compassion in one of two ways 

• Volunteer Experience Leader – providing hospitality for volunteer teams, serving and guiding educational/faith formation components (daily reflections, conversations with local partners, etc.)
  
• Recovery Project Leader - leading volunteer teams in repair/rebuild projects and liaising with construction partners and community leaders
  

Training is two-part event: 

• Part 1: January 17 and 18 - virtual
  
• Part 2: January 31 - February 7 - in-person; Hopkins County, KY
  

Both sessions are required to be credentialed as part of the Week of Compassion Core Crew. If necessary, we can arrange alternative in-person training dates.

Week of Compassion is striving to increase the accessibility of our training. Transportation to and from the hands-on training site will be covered, along with food and lodging for the week, and Site Leaders receive a weekly stipend, while having opportunities to serve vulnerable communities, build skills, and learn innovative solutions to support community resilience. 

When a community is recovering from a disaster, volunteers bring hope. A good volunteer site requires a good recovery site leader - to coordinate with local partners, to guide construction, and to teach and encourage volunteers. 

If you have a heart for service and a willingness to lead, we can teach you the rest. Be part of the Week of Compassion Core Crew - and help transform suffering into hope.