Coronavirus Volunteer Opportunities with the United Way Volunteer Center
United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley is working closely with other community partners to share their most immediate needs while dealing with the coronavirus. We are working to connect volunteers to safe opportunities in their communities.
- Send a Thank You Card with United Way
- Volunteers Needed at the Health Department
- MercyMed
- American Red Cross
- Meals on Wheels Delivery
- Food Distribution for Children
- Making Face Masks
- What to Keep in Mind When Volunteering
Send a Thank You Card with United Way:
Show your appreciation for the teachers, healthcare workers, or Publix employees in our community who are essential to the well-being and success of the Chattahoochee Valley! Click here to get started!
Volunteers Needed at the Health Department:
The Health Department is greatly increasing it’s testing of COVID 19 in the community. As part of that effort, there is a COVID 19 phone line that the community can call to get answers to local health related COVID 19 questions, testing times etc. They are looking to expand the number of available phone lines. All information through the phone line is vetted through CDC and Georgia Department of Public Health Guidance. Phone Line staff also call people who have tested negative for COVID 19 and share their results. (Positive results are handled through Health Department medical staff). This phone line is manned by health department staff and supplemented by community volunteers.
Time: Monday through Friday 8:30AM to 7PM and 8:30AM to 5PM Saturday. Ideally volunteers would work a 2-4 hour shift.
Location: Columbus Health Department. Volunteers will work from the Health Department Phone Stations. Volunteers do not require any special equipment.
Volunteer Requirements: Adult Volunteers 18 years of age and over with good communication skills. Volunteers will complete brief paperwork including HIPAA. Training will be provided onsite prior to starting a shift, and takes about 15-20 minutes. There is a script provided for the volunteer when making calls as well as general talking points about COVID 19. This information is updated by Health Department Staff. There will always be a member of Health Department staff on hand to answer challenging calls or return calls if needed.
If you are interested in participating as a volunteer please send your name, contact number and email to Jack Lockwood at Jack.Lockwood@dph.ga.gov
MercyMed:
MercyMed has an ongoing need for volunteers particularly with medical experience. Contact Billy Holbrook at billy@mercymedcolumbus.com for more information.
American Red Cross:
To donate blood, visit the www.redcrossblood.org and type in your zip code in the “Find a Blood Drive” box. This will provide the most updated drive information in our community.
Meals on Wheels Delivery:
Direct Services is in need of volunteers for the Meals on Wheels delivery program. Volunteers are required by the state to complete a background check. Click here for volunteer details. If you have questions on how you can volunteer, please contact Babbs Douglas at babbsdouglas.ds@gmail.com
Muscogee County School District- Food Distribution for Area Children:
In need of volunteers to help distribute meals at school or bus locations and to help fill buses with food to deliver to school locations and housing developments around the city. To volunteer, contact Susan Schlader, Director of Nutrition for MCSD at Schlader.Susan.C@muscogee.k12.ga.us
Making Face Masks:
If you are interested in sewing masks for essential workers in our community visit the group page below. They are also in need of material donations. Contact information can be found in the link here.
WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND …
We appreciate our community’s commitment to helping during the Coronavirus outbreak, but please keep in mind:
Honor the public health recommendations. If you’re delivering supplies or food to a family or organization, follow the suggestion of social distancing – ring the doorbell and move away from the door, text them beforehand, etc.
Look for opportunities that are limited in size. Organizations know how important of a role they play in minimizing the spread of the disease. If you are committed to volunteering with others, look for a group size of 10 or less.
Stay home when you are sick. Of course, you should be doing all of the things to stay safe – hand washing, limiting exposure, etc. If you are not feeling well, please stay home! Staying home when not feeling well, allows those volunteering to stay safe from exposure of the virus.