Organizations Continue to Work ‘Round the Clock’ to Help

These are notes I took from the April virtual meeting of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD), reporting on the projects on-going in Utah.

Organizations of faith, working hand in hand, side by side, joined by the American Red Cross, a senior VOAD partner, bring volunteers and treasure to the aid of Utahns fighting the CONVID-19 crisis and earthquake recovery for in need.

VOADs do not self-deploy.  They react to the requests that come from Governmental organizations.

Just a few highlights of VOAD responses:

Habitat for Humanity continues to lift 45 Magna mobile homes back onto their foundations and repair 30 others damaged in the earthquake.  Habitat volunteers are also helping repair 200 homes that sustained damage -- primarily to brick chimneys. This is being accomplished at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars. They have exhausted a large grant and are seeking more funds.

The Church of Scientology received a large shipment of Decon 7 and have used it to de-contaminate first responder vehicle’s — police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks -- in Provo, Murray and SLC.

Thousands of boxed meals and other food has been distributed to those in need.  Thanks to the Salvation Army and Southern Baptists.  Tooele is very engaged in this activity, especially targeting seniors.

25,000 are being helped with rent assistance; funds are being sought.

The Church of Jesus Christ: A Rose Park meeting house has been called into action as a field hospital site; hygiene kits have been disbursed; a cloth mask-making Project was placed on JustServe.

An urgent request has been made by Salt Lake County for 2000 "Cloth Masks for COVID-19”. They are looking for any group to donate fabric, cut out the pattern and sew masks.  These are to be given to First Responders for personal use such as grocery shopping, etc., so their medical grade masks can be preserved for front-line use when they are on call.

The first quarantine center, a 250-bed unit, is open at Mountain America EXPO Center in Sandy. Such sites are for people requiring hospitalization, unrelated to COVID-19, to free up hospitals to treat severely ill COVID-19 patients. VOAD will be needed to help with donations of equipment, supplies and volunteers.