U.S. Volunteer Work Team Sites

Arizona

Southern Arizona - border ministry

No More Deaths
3809 East 3rd Street
Tucson, AZ 85716

• Visit the No More Deaths web site for information about mission trips, donations, etc.
• Email No More Deaths
• (520) 307-7379
• Individuals and small teams welcome
• Training provided; minimum age 18 unless accompanied by an adult; Spanish or medical expertise helpful/not essential
• Opportunity available for traveling teams during March and the summer program; local volunteers welcome year round

Needs: work in desert camps to reach out to migrants in distress as they cross the desert (food, water, basic medical aid)

Volunteers are needed to help with home repairs or recovery efforts that may not be disaster-related.

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Arkansas

Volunteers needed at the Disaster Assistance Center

The Ferncliff Disaster Assistance Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, is one of the two processing locations for Church World Service Gift of the Heart Kits. Volunteers inspect kits that are received from churches around the country and help with receipting, checking, weighing, banding, palletizing and shrink wrapping in order to prepare the kits for shipment following a disaster. Participants may also help with other projects at Ferncliff and/or with other local mission agencies, especially if the work team is large.

Volunteer teams stay (and play) at the Ferncliff Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center.  The Ferncliff Retreat house sleeps up to 25 (5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, full kitchen); the Eco Center (straw bale walled, solar powered, radiant floor heated, very "green" building) can sleep 24 (6 bedrooms, meeting space but only a kitchenette);  Williams Lodge has 4-6 bedrooms with 3 single beds each and a kitchen, and Brown Center hotel rooms are available without cooking facilities. 

• Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or send your phone number and details about your interest by email to the PDA Call Center.
• Minimum age high school; youth to adult ratio 5 to 1
• Opportunities at Ferncliff for long term individual volunteers or couples to help with general hospitality during spring and fall (1-3 months)

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Florida

Hurricanes Irma and Michael were huge storms that affected many communities in Florida. Several organizations are partnering together in the repair and rebuilding of homes for those who do not have the means to recover without assistance.  Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is coordinating volunteer housing through traditional PDA Host Sites and other facilities willing to accommodate teams.  Volunteer opportunities are available in the following areas:

Chipley

Dogwood Acres Camp will be hosting volunteers willing to help with repairing the camp and surrounding areas damaged by Hurricane Michael.  Please email Eden Roberts at the PDA Call Center for details pda.callcenter@pcusa.org

• Maximum team size 60
• This site prefers adult teams but will accept mature youth as long as there is a 5-1 youth to adult ratio
• Many housing options available

Fort Myers

Buckingham Presbyterian Church will be hosting volunteers willing to help with repairing homes damaged by Hurricane Irma.  Please email Eden Roberts at the PDA Call Center for details pda.callcenter@pcusa.org

• Maximum team size 20
• This site prefers adult teams but will accept mature youth as long as there is a 2-1 youth to adult ratio

Tampa

Cedarkirk Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center will be hosting volunteers willing to help with repairing homes damaged by Hurricane Irma. Please email Eden Roberts at the PDA Call Center for details pda.callcenter@pcusa.org

Hyde Park Presbyterian Church will be hosting volunteers willing to help with repairing homes damaged by Hurricane Michael.  Please email Eden Roberts at the PDA Call Center for details pda.callcenter@pcusa.org

• Maximum team size 40
• Minimum age is 15 for volunteers, youth to adult ratio 5:1

Daytona

Union Congregational Church, Holly Hill, FL and Port Orange Presbyterian Church are hosting teams. Please email Eden Roberts at the PDA Call Center for details pda.callcenter@pcusa.org

Panama City

Gulf Beach Presbyterian Church will be hosting volunteers willing to help with repairing homes damaged by Hurricane Irma. Please email Eden Roberts at the PDA Call Center for details pda.callcenter@pcusa.org

• Maximum team size 16

• Minimum age is 18 for volunteers
• Work will be arranged through SBP

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Georgia

Flint River Presbytery is hosting volunteer teams to help with clean up and rebuilding following the 2016 flooding.

• Email Dbibler@flintriverpresbytery.org
• (229) 942-8304 Deb T. Bibler, Executive Presbyter
• Teams of adults are needed in Albany and surrounding areas
• Youth teams will be considered based on available work projects

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Louisiana

First Presbyterian Church, Lafayette will be hosting volunteers willing to help with cleanup and rebuilding in response to the August 2016 flooding

• Contact the PDA Call Center at  (866) 732-6121, or send your phone number and details about your interest by email to the PDA Call Center.
• Once your reservation has been made with the PDA Call Center, you will be contacted by Rebuilding Together for your work assignment.  Rebuilding Together works with teams Tuesday-Saturday.
• Minimum age 14
• Maximum team size 15

 Rebuilding Hope in New Orleans (RHINO) is an outreach ministry of St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church and a premier urban mission destination. We provide meaningful service opportunities in New Orleans for volunteers from all over the nation and actively work to help New Orleans residents restore their lives both physically and spiritually. Since initially opening our doors in October 2005 to help with Hurricane Katrina response, we have welcomed over 8,000 volunteers from various national organizations and built 55 homes through Habitat for Humanity, as well as partnered with The New Orleans Mission, Second Harvest Food Bank, Magnolia Community Services, Capstone Community Gardens, and Love in Action Outreach to rebuild hope in many different ways all over New Orleans.

• Email Tim Shipkin
• (504) 897-0101 x111
• Adult and youth groups (minimum 8 members) welcome
• Camp RHINO - summer, week-long mission camp for youth ages 14 – 18 (youth to adult ratio 5 to 1)

University Presbyterian Church, Baton Rouge will be hosting volunteers willing to help with cleanup and rebuilding in response to the August 2016 flooding

• Contact the PDA Call Center at  (866) 732-6121, or send your phone number and details about your interest by email to the PDA Call Center.
• Once your reservation has been made with the PDA Call Center, you will be contacted by Rebuilding Together for your work assignment.  Rebuilding Together works with teams Monday-Friday.
• Minimum age 16
• Maximum team size 20

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Maryland

Home repair

N.A.I.L.S.
635 East First St.
Cumberland, MD 21502

Volunteers are needed to help with home repairs or recovery efforts that may not be disaster-related.

• Contact NAILS by email or call (301) 724-6606
• Minimum age 14 with adult supervision
• Skilled and unskilled welcome
• Donations are welcome and used to purchase materials for the job sites
• See their website for more information

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Missouri

The Salvation Army in St. Louis is hosting volunteers willing to help with cleanup and rebuilding in response to the winter floods of 2015.

• Contact Sherita Bradshaw-Jackson at 314-550-1881 or email
• Minimum age 18
• Maximum team size is approximately 20+

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Mississippi

R3SM, Inc., Recover, Rebuild, Restore Southeast Mississippi is hosting volunteers at Lucas-Varnado Volunteer House in Hattiesburg, MS in response to the March 2016 flooding and the January 2017 F3 tornado.  Volunteers are needed to help rebuild homes.  

• Contact Chris Adams, volunteer coordinator for R3SM via email or call (601) 544-5115 office, or (601) 818-5899 cell
• Maximum team size 60 volunteers
• Beds, kitchen, shower, and laundry facilities provided 

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Nebraska

OMAHA, NEBRASKA

Presbyterian Church of the Cross offers accommodations for work teams responding to the devastating floods. The church offers space that can be used for sleeping 2 showers, and a small kitchen area.  Contact Sheri Sessions at 402-657-9256, sherisessions@cox.net for more details.

New Jersey

Camp Evans in Wall Township is hosting volunteers in response to October 2012’s Hurricane Sandy.  Help is needed with cleanup of homes, home sites, and local churches and with general home repairs and rebuilding.

• Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or send your phone number and details about your interest by email to the PDA Call Center.
• Minimum age 16
• Maximum team size 87

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New York

Hurricane Sandy response

Living Waters Fellowship in Brooklyn is hosting volunteer teams in response to Hurricane Sandy. Visit their website for more information.

• Contact Pastor Ron Mandile 

Calvary Presbyterian Church in Staten Island

Help with restoration and rebuilding efforts in response to October 2012’s Hurricane Sandy. 

• Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or send your phone number and details about your interest by email.
• Maximum team size 15
• Skilled and unskilled volunteer work teams needed year-round
• Minimum age 14; youth to adult ratio 5 to 1

 Unitarian Church of Staten Island will be hosting volunteers in response to October 2012’s Hurricane Sandy.  

• Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or send your phone number and details about your interest by email to the PDA Call Center.
• Minimum age 14; youth to adult ratio 4 to 1
• Maximum team size 15

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North Carolina

North Carolina Conference for the United Methodist Church is hosting volunteers in response to Hurricane Matthew. Visit their website for information.

Highland Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville is hosting volunteers in response to Hurricane Matthew.  Mission groups will be working through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), providing home repair and maintenance on houses devastated by natural disaster (Most recently, Hurricane Matthew October 2016).

• Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or send your phone number and details about your interest by email to the PDA Call Center.
• Minimum age 14; youth to adult ratio 3 to 1
• Maximum team size 30

First Presbyterian Church, Kinston is hosting volunteers in response to Hurricanes Florence and Matthew.  

• Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or send your phone number and details about your interest by email to the PDA Call Center.
• Minimum age 14; youth to adult ratio 4 to 1
• Maximum team size 22

West Presbyterian Church, New Bern is hosting volunteers in response to Hurricane Florence.  

• Contact Rev. David Fuentes for reservations fuentes@westnewbernpc.org
• Minimum age 16; youth to adult ratio 4 to 1
• Maximum team size 24
• The government and voluntary organizations are still in a “sustained” response period, meaning that there remains response work yet to be done. This includes but is not limited to maintaining or restoring power, providing humanitarian assistance, cleaning up debris, mucking out homes, and providing emotional and spiritual care.

Presbyterian Church USA volunteers typically engage and partner with PDA during the longer- term recovery period, which often begins around three to six months post-disaster and can continue for years thereafter.  Some volunteer groups are eager to assist now during the response period. It is important to remember that the churches that are engaging in the “response” hosting are not connected to long term work partners; teams will need to be self-sustaining.  While the churches have opened their doors for teams to eat, sleep, and shower, they do not have the connections to specific work projects.  Teams will need to connect to a local volunteer reception area or find work on their own.

New Bern, NC 

PDA has partnered with Fuller Disaster Rebuilders.

Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders

• Rebuilding mucked out homes in New Bern, NC.
• Welcome all skill levels but appreciate skilled leadership in the team.
• Minimum age is 16 with a youth to adult ratio of 3 to 1.
• Maximum team size is 40 (exceptions possible). For college and youth groups, maximum size is 20.
• Meals are included in the registration fee of $125/person/week.
• Register to volunteer here. Please also send an email to disaster-rebuilders@fullercenter.org when you register.

First Presbyterian Church, Wilmington is hosting volunteers in response to Hurricane Florence.  

• Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or send your phone number and details about your interest by email to the PDA Call Center.
• Minimum age 16; youth to adult ratio 4 to 1
• Maximum team size 25

Matthew House in collaboration with Little Chapel on the Boardwalk Presbyterian Church in Wrightsville Beach, NC is accepting teams to do hurricane relief.

• Email amartz5@ec.rr.com to book your team
• 410-274-3811 Ann Martz
• Minimum age requirement 16
• Matthew House can accommodate teams of 18 or less
• Arrival on Sunday and Departure on Saturday required

More information can be found at www.littlechapel.org

All Hearts and Hands is hosting volunteers at Camp Vandemere near New Bern, NC in response to Hurricane Florence  Register at the link below.

• PLEASE NOTE:  When you register your team, put “PDA” in front of your group name in order to fast track your application
• https://www.allhandsandhearts.org/volunteer/hurricane-florence-relief/hurricane-florence-relief-volunteer-application/
• Minimum age 18
• Maximum team size 12

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North Dakota

Spirit Lake Sioux Reservation/Bdecan Presbyterian Church Projects
Bdecan Presbyterian Church, the only Indian Presbyterian Church in North Dakota, is located on the Spirit Lake Sioux Reservation in north central North Dakota. Send an email to find out how your team can help, or visit our Web site and click on mission teams on top to go to the mission teams page with application.

Volunteers are needed to help with home repairs or recovery efforts that may not be disaster-related.

• At this time, volunteers are needed for Vacation Bible School type programming. Building projects are not currently available.

• Call Joe Obermeyer, Bdecan Presbyterian Church Youth & Outreach Coordinator, at (701) 294-2283, or email bdecanpresbyterianchurch@yahoo.com

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Puerto Rico

Hurricane María hit Puerto Rico on September 20. The federal government declared the entire island a national disaster. Thousands of people lost their lives and thousands of  homes were destroyed or damaged.

El Guacio Camp is hosting volunteer teams to help with clean up and rebuilding following Hurricane Maria. 

• Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or send your phone number and details about your interest by email to the PDA Call Center.
• Maximum team size 44
• Ages 18+

La Casona de Monteflores Presbyterian Church is hosting volunteer teams to help with clean up and rebuilding following this massive hurricane. 

• Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or send your phone number and details about your interest by email to the PDA Call Center.
• Maximum team size 20
• Housing + Meals + Projects - $45 per person, per night.
• Housing + Meals - $40 per person, per night.
• Housing - $35 per person, per night.
• Ages 14+

 La Posada de Angeles is hosting volunteer teams to help with clean up and rebuilding following this massive hurricane. 

• Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or send your phone number and details about your interest by email to the PDA Call Center.
• Maximum team size 16
• Ages 14+

Lutheran Camp-Campamento Luterano  

• PDA teams booking at the Lutheran Camp have the opportunity to connect with the local Presbyteries, just let Everidys know that you are a PDA team and she will connect you to Michelle Munez, the local Disaster Response Coordinator.
• 694 Km. 2.0 Barrio Maguayo, Dorado, PR 00646 Google map link: https://goo.gl/maps/GP3F7zoPGXr

• Everidys Concepción, Volunteer Coordinator econcepcion@sslpr.org

• Maximum team size 60
• Ages 18+

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South Carolina

Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Columbia is hosting volunteers in response to the 2015 flood and Hurricane Matthew.  Teams will be working with SBP.

• Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or send your phone number and details about your interest by email to the PDA Call Center.
• Minimum age is 22; or for youth age 16 and above, a 4 to 1 youth to adult ratio is required
• Maximum team size 20
• Teams must arrive on Sunday and depart on Saturday

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Tennessee

Gatlinburg Presbyterian Church is hosting volunteer teams in response to the wildfires that ravished the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas.  

• Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121, or send your phone number and details about your interest by email to the PDA Call Center.
• Maximum team size 32
• Minimum age 12 (for donation sorting) 16 and older for field work
• March and April teams are needed to sort donations and help with debris clean up
• Rebuild work will likely begin in May

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Texas

Hurricane Harvey response

El Divino Salvador Presbyterian Church in Corpus Christi will be hosting volunteers willing to help with rebuilding in response to Hurricane Harvey.

• Contact the PDA Call Center at 866-732-6121, or send your phone number and details about your interest by email to the PDA Call Center.
• Maximum team size 10-15
• Minimum age rising 9^th graders; ratio of 5 youth to one adult over 21

Parkway Presbyterian Church in Corpus Christi will be hosting volunteers willing to help with rebuilding in response to Hurricane Harvey.

Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders

• Volunteers are being housed at Clear Lake Presbyterian Church in Houston.
• Work is focused on rebuilding mucked out homes.
• Welcome all skill levels but appreciate skilled leadership in the team.
• Minimum age is 16 with a youth to adult ratio of 3 to 1.
• Maximum team size is 60 (25 at Clear Lake and 40 at a second site).
• Meals are included in the registration fee of $100/person/week.
• Register to volunteer here. Please also send an email to disaster-rebuilders@fullercenter.org when you register.

Hurricane Alex response

First Presbyterian Church of Mission, Texas, is hosting teams willing to help families in the Rio Grande Valley with clean up and rebuilding. Carpentry and plumbing skills are helpful.

A visit and education about the border area can be arranged, depending on schedules.

• Email outreach@fpcmission.com
• (956) 585-4829
• Teams of adults and senior or junior high students with supervision are welcome

Refugee ministry

First Presbyterian Church of McAllen is hosting volunteer work teams and partnering with the Sacred Heart Welcome Center where “Refugees” (actually Asylum Seekers) usually arrive at the Welcome Center in groups.  Volunteers are needed to greet and assist refugees from Central America and South America brought to Sacred Heart Welcome Center by the US Border Patrol.

• Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121 for more information
• Training is provided
• Adult groups and inter-generational groups are welcome, minimum age for volunteers is 14
• Maximum team size is 15
• Spanish language skills are helpful but not essential

Refugee ministry

University Presbyterian Church, El Paso, is hosting volunteer work teams and partnering with the The Annunciation House to assist during this humanitarian crisis. Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121 for more information

• Training is provided
• Adult groups and inter-generational groups are welcome, minimum age for volunteers is 16
• https://annunciationhouse.org/
• Maximum team size is 15
• Spanish language skills are helpful but not essential
• Requires a two-week commitment

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West Virginia

2016 flood response, in addition to non-disaster-related work

West Virginia Ministry of Advocacy & Workcamps, Inc. (WVMAW)
PO Box 338
Nettie, WV 26681

WVMAW has been active for many years prior to the flooding in 2016. Their previous work, which is not always disaster-related, continues as they take on additional projects in response to the 2016 flooding. Volunteers are needed to help with home repairs or recovery efforts in various parts of West Virginia; includes reconstruction of homes and churches. 

• Email Joan West Stewart or call (304) 846-2294
• Skilled and unskilled volunteers welcome; housing provided
• Youth teams welcome
• Hear from a team who served with WVMAW following Hurricane Sandy (2013)

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International volunteers

PDA does not promote volunteers serving in international disaster situations.  Volunteers should keep in mind that international relief work is a profession – and that it takes unique individuals who speak the language, know the culture, and can work effectively in incredibly difficult conditions. 

Other volunteer opportunities

Are you unable to go on a mission trip but still want to be involved? Click here for other volunteer opportunities!