As of right now, the Washington Post has reported that between 750,000 and 1 million people have either been displaced or are without power in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. Nearly 40 deaths have since been recorded since the storm touched down in North Carolina earlier this month. This is the third major hurricane in almost two years after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and Harvey in Houston, Texas. Needless to say, there is a lot of work that can be done and many organizations are looking for willing volunteers to help with the cause. So what can current college students or recent grads do if they are interested in helping with disaster relief efforts in the wake of these natural disasters?
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Disaster relief internships
Habitat for Humanity offers a variety of different internship programs for those looking to help those who have been affected by things out of their control. But for those looking to make an impact while gaining useful experience to later go into the field of disaster relief, you can apply to Habitat’s one-year Disaster Risk Reduction and Response internship at their Atlanta headquarters. These internships will be focused on researching logistics and coordinating with Habitat’s teams throughout the word as they rebuild homes for those experiencing hardships around the world. The internships are unpaid, but you will be gaining valuable experience and college credit with one of the world’s leaders most reputable organizations dealing in disaster relief.
For more information on these internships, head over to habitat.org.
Get out and volunteer
All Hands and Hearts is currently accepting volunteers to assist with Hurricane relief for the residents who have been affected by Florence. One of the most important tasks that volunteers will be assisting with is delivering meals to those who have been displaced from their homes. This volunteer program will put you directly on the front lines and will be the most effective way to make a difference first hand for all of those who are suffering from this horrific natural disaster. If you choose to travel outside of the continental U.S., All Hands and Hearts is also accepting volunteers for their continued efforts to help those affected by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico as well.
For more information on volunteering, head over to allhandsandhearts.org.
