Floor to Ceiling

how disaster site leaders make all the difference

After the urgent concern of a disaster has passed - when debris has been cleared, and news crews have gone home, and tarped roofs and boarded windows are doing a good-enough job of making space tolerable - it is the ongoing and careful attention to detail that helps families really recover, return to safe and secure houses, and feel like they’re home again.

Group Volunteers and Disaster Site Leaders are a  foundational part of long-term disaster recovery. On April 23, to celebrate National Volunteer Week, we’ll have stories of impact from recent Week of Compassion volunteers – and preview volunteer sites and opportunities where you can connect!

---

Before volunteer groups arrive for their week of service, a core crew of trained Site Leaders has prepared the space for these groups to stay, learn, serve, and connect. These Disaster Site Leaders are vital to the mission and ministry of Week of Compassion and long-term disaster recovery and response. 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.​

“I wish there was some way I could help. I have time. But where do I start?”

Is this you? Someone you know? Week of Compassion is planning a Disaster Site Leadership Training. This training is for anyone with a heart for service and a willingness to lead projects, who enjoys working on-site with volunteer groups, and is eager to walk alongside communities in the U.S. recovering from disasters. (Site Leaders receive a weekly stipend.)

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: 

• Disaster Rebuild Leader – leading volunteer teams on site in repair/rebuild projects in connection with construction partners and community leaders
• Volunteer Experience Leader – providing hospitality for volunteer teams, guiding daily reflections, and leading conversations with local partners

Typically, Site Leaders serve on-site for 3 to 12 weeks of their choosing (or for single weeks, if local to the site). Completing the training adds ready leaders to our list of available leaders; it does not obligate leaders to serve. Site Leaders will have opportunities to determine participation based on availability and interest for future service. 

Disaster Site Leadership Training includes two parts - a virtual component and an in-person/on-site component - that build on each other.

“I’d really love to do something with Week of Compassion one day.”
Disaster Response Leadership Training may be JUST the thing!

When a community is recovering from a disaster, volunteers bring hope. In every good volunteer experience, a good Site Leader makes all the difference – from coordinating with local partners, to guiding construction, and teaching and encouraging volunteers, these leaders serve vulnerable communities, build skills, and learn innovative solutions to support community resilience. 

Group Volunteers and Disaster Site Leaders … just two of the ways Week of Compassion lives into the vision of a world where God’s people transform suffering into hope.

---

With questions and for more information, contact [email protected]