Forget rain, hail, or shine – Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) volunteers brave “fires, floods, and earthquakes” to help those in danger.
Now, the SAES are putting the call out across Victoria for people to sign up, with the impending ‘disaster season’ looming.
SAES teams support thousands of first responders and survivors of natural disasters each year by providing meals, bedding, and emotional support.
This decade, 8500 volunteers have put in more than 50,000 hours – in that time, they have distributed almost 400,000 meals to 80,000 people.
SAES Victoria response coordinator Carolyn Spratling said signing up was not for the faint hearted.
“The Salvos will be there for the long haul, which is why we are looking for passionate, dedicated people who would like to sign up and volunteer to support people doing it really tough during a natural disaster… You will make a profound difference.”
“This volunteer role is a serious one, so we encourage Victorians to consider it thoughtfully. The process to become a volunteer is thorough, as we want to ensure we find the right people for the role.”
However, it is an extremely rewarding experience that means so much to so many people.
“When people see The Salvation Army, they see a place of friendship and hope, and that is what you are able to bring to people as a volunteer with us,” said Ms Spratling.
The application process is designed to ensure the team has the right mix of skills, experience and passion and includes screening questions, a phone interview, references, and a police check.
If accepted, volunteers would undertake online training modules to learn the appropriate skills for the role.
Sign up: www.salvationarmy.org.au/emergency-services/
