Volunteer Memphis Overwhelmed By Outpouring Of Support, Asks For Moderation As Needs Are Assessed.

I just finished a phone conversation with Terry Coggins, one of the many hard working volunteers manning the phone banks at Volunteer Memphis. According to Terry, Volunteer Memphis is committed to a "measured response" during this time of crisis. "Because of the devestation we are seeing in New Orleans and Biloxi, some of the things we want to do in order to help may seem much more urgent to those of us who are here in Memphis than they actually are," Terry tells me. "I have a woman on the phone with a church group who, out of the kindness of their hearts, prepared food for 500 people. The problem is that they've already taken the step to prepare the food for the 500 people. Now, I have to find a place where that food can go. I don't know that we have 500 people for that food to go to."

It isn't that there aren't 500 people who need the meals, Terry tells me, it's simply that there may not be a current need for 500 already-prepared meals at the time they are being offered. If the meals aren't eaten, then valuable resources go to waste.

The problem which Terry and other volunteers who are referring people for aid and assistance now face is one of those who, in a real desire to want to help out, offer too much help in areas where a need for help may not exist at that particular time. "In our rush to want to help, we may be actually wasting resources which will eventually be needed. It may be today, it may be in a couple of days or a week, but those resources will be needed." To keep communications on-track and for resources to be made useful, Terry recommends, "Stay in contact, stay close to the organizations that you want to help out to find out what you can do." Church groups, contributors and individual offers of aid and assistance should be referred through the agencies that are here so that we don't extend too much help in one area at the wrong time.

Volunteer Memphis, which acts as a referral service for people who want to volunteer with local agencies, has had more than 2000 offers of volunteer service in the past 5 days. "The response has been overwhelming," Terry told me. "We absolutely need and want people to continue to offer their time, and we encourage you to work with us if you can. To the people who are offering to volunteer their time, please be patient with us. We may not be able to get back to you in 24-48 hours as we normally would. However, eventually I guarantee someone will get back to you. It may be several days before you hear from us, but we appreciate the outpouring of support from the community and you will be contacted when agencies, including ours, are in need of volunteers."

Click Here To Find Out How You Can Help Thru the Volunteer Memphis Website

COUNTERPOINT: (With Thanks To Justin Hand)

this was forwarded from an old friend of mine..... if you'd like to help, here is what we need here in memphis and the midsouth....

FYI:

I just got back from the Red Cross on Central (right before you get to Lamar and there are a LOT of refugees there. They are mostly in need of diapers, formula, baby wipes, baby food, toiletries and things like that. They said they have more clothes donated than they know what to do with. There are lots of babies and toddlers, but really a mix of all ages. I'm sure there are similar places around Memphis, and maybe St. Louis too.

Thanks,
tina