Michigan VOAD responds to communities in need during blue and gray skies.
Michigan VOAD organizational members respond to disasters in Michigan. Contact us to volunteer with a trusted Michigan VOAD member. Or see our Members Page to find a local disaster response group to work with directly.
Just a friendly reminder to please BE PATIENT. You will be contacted once we have had an opportunity to assess the damage and identify unmet needs.
Seeing images of disaster may compel you to head to the impacted area. Don’t underestimate the complexity of working in a disaster area. Until a need has been identified and the local community impacted has requested support, volunteers should not enter.
- Be sure to organize with us or a member before coming to the disaster area.
- Wait until it is safe to travel to volunteer sites and opportunities have been identified.
- Once assigned a position, make sure you have been given an assignment and are wearing proper safety gear for the task.
Be patient. Recovery lasts a lot longer than the media attention. There will be volunteer needs for many months, often years, after the disaster ? especially when the community enters the long-term recovery period.
How to Donate
While all donations are appreciated, CASH IS BEST. Michigan VOAD is fully-vetted, experienced, and staffed by dedicated professionals who will get the most out of your generous donation. If you wish to make a financial donation to Michigan VOAD, please contact us.
Do not send or bring unsolicited donations. In the early stages of the response phase, most organizations are unable to accommodate any material goods. Unsolicited donations create a challenge of storage and sorting when focus is needed on response and recovery. Contact us for information on what is needed.
Cash is Best
- Purchase food, water, medicine, and equipment from secure and familiar supply chains
- Buy materials locally. This can help rebuild the local economy
- Conserve resources. Money is always necessary and cheap to send, but the cost to ship material supplies can be expensive.
- Remember, material supplies such as used clothing, miscellaneous household items, and mixed or perishable food require helping agencies to redirect volunteer labor away from providing direct one-on-one assistance to sort, package, transport, warehouse, and distribute items that may not meet the needs of disaster survivors.