April 20, 2006 | Read Time: 1 minute
Learning from the difficulties of coordinating the activities of volunteers following Hurricane Katrina, the Points of Light Foundation, in Washington, announced plans for a new Web site to match volunteers with appropriate tasks following national disasters.
The site, which will become available on April 29, will request that volunteers submit a profile with their hours of availability and their skills, such as construction experience or current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Such information can then be used following a disaster to quickly place volunteers with charities that need their help.
Katherine Watier, director of sales and marketing at 1-800-Volunteer.org, an online database of volunteers run by the Points of Light Foundation, says the Web site will also provide information about how to become a trained volunteer for rescue charities, such as the American Red Cross, and how people can find local volunteer opportunities.
Since Hurricane Katrina, the number of volunteers registered with the organization has climbed from about 45,000 to about 103,000.
To get there: Go to http://www.helpindisaster.org.
