Organizations Still Seeking Volunteers To Help With Flood Clean Up
DETROIT (WWJ) -- Although the massive floods were nearly two weeks ago, there is still a need for help in cleaning up. The Michigan Community Service Commission and American Red Cross are looking for volunteers to help homeowners remove debris and gut basements and salvage belongings.
Volunteers are asked to show up Saturday and Sunday between 7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to sign up to work with The Michigan Community Service Commission. The sign-up center is at Wayne State University in front of the Matthaei Physical Education building on Warren Avenue.
The Michigan Community Service Commission said in a press release, that "the immediate need is for manual labor, helping homeowners salvage belongings, sorting and removing debris, and gutting out damaged basements."
The organization asks volunteers to bring lunch, a water bottle, sturdy, thick-soled, closed-toed shoes, work gloves and work clothes that will get dirty.
The Southeastern Michigan Red Cross is asking for volunteers to help answering phones in their call center. After a brief orientation, volunteers will work a four-hour shift from either 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. or 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Red Cross spokesperson Vickie Eichstaedt explained how you can get involved with the Red Cross Call Center.
"What we'd like is for folks to come to our Mack Avenue facility in Detroit after they've talked to us," Eichstaedt said. "We will set them up with a four-hour shift."
To volunteer, email the Red Cross at DR444-15ss1@redcross.org if you are interested.
In the meantime, Wayne County is opening two more temporary resource centers next week to help flood victims. Tim McGillvary, the Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for Wayne County, explained what people can expect at the centers.
"What we try to do is provide folks a one-stop shop for citizens to ask questions, gather information and get things that will help assist them with the clean up efforts moving forward," McGillvary said. "We're trying to put as many agencies together at the came place at the same time so folks don't have to make 15 different phone calls if they have questions regarding issues related to the flood."
A resource center will be open Monday and Tuesday at the Young Rec Center in Dearborn Heights and at Kennedy School in Ecorse. McGillvary said federal aid will not be distributed at these centers.