Disaster Relief Volunteering in United States

Wonderful people, caring staff, beautiful experience . Been a couple different locations, same experience, just different longitude. And the locals, and local workers part of family. I'm not sure i know 200 words, O, 200 characters, some can repeat, got it. Interaction on free time with other volunteers, enjoyable, educational. Everyone you meet knows something you don't know( especially me) so listen with passion.Looking forward to next available program.Hopi g for many natural disasters to occur, of course with no injuries or community damage, which I'm guessing could still be a program? Good luck to all, continued succes., and making the world a better place, which you have.

I spent a week in Florida volunteering in hurricane cleanup relief as I travelled around America. The program was as expected with good facilities, friendly people, good after hours events but the physical cleanup work was harder and hotter than I expected!

Para querer ayudar con el corazón . No existe ningún obstáculo. Gracias a todos por participar en este proyecto con all Hans. Ver el trabajo unido de todos por ayudar los demas, es admirable . Dejar la comodidad de tu casa para que otros tengan el mismo.

All Hands & Hearts is a fantastic organisation with well-run volunteer programs that are exciting and great fun. The people (both staff and volunteers) are a fabulous mix and the local communities are a delight to be a part of. I've volunteered with All Hands & Hearts on three different occasions in three different countries (so far) and have loved every second of my time on site and on base.

This wasn't my first All Hands and Hearts project so I had high expectations and they were met at every turn! The volunteer community is top notch and the staff are absolutely amazing. I am so glad I was able to join the North Carolina response for 3 months. I made so many new friends; some I've already met up with post program and even more I know I'll keep in touch with for years to come. My highlight was getting to partner with World Central Kitchen and learning how to make enough food to feed 500 people. One day I spent the whole morning making 10gallons of banana bread! You should definitely apply to join the NC team today!

I was nervous at first to start my first volunteer assignment, but the welcoming people at the North Carolina area made all that go away the first day. The staff and volunteers were very welcoming and very informative.

My years’ long goal of performing humanitarian work came alive the day Hurricane Helene swept ashore upon the US in September 2024. I immediately searched for an NGO, not having any prior knowledge. All Hands and Hearts just seemed to jump out to me. I immediately applied and was accepted to the North Carolina program for November 2024. The staff (33 days in to the disaster) had already secured a large warehouse with over 60 beds (30 bunks) with air mattresses. They also had shower trailers and exterior wash basins, and cook/grilling area established. No small feat I was certain. My first day of work involved “mudding” one (of many) damaged homes. With so many different needs in the community, the staff made certain that we all rotated through different duties every day. In my short 10 days on base, I was honored and proud to learn task and gain skills I never thought imaginable. For instance, basic onsite safety, how to prep a building g for mold sanitization, how to remove baseboard and flooring, how to properly measure damaged drywall for accurate cutting and demolition before sensitization, and the list goes on! Although a tiring and sometimes stressful environment, I would not trade this experience for anything. The needs of a community after a disaster are vast and at times it seems impossible to assist. All Hands has a beautiful way of touching many people within a community. Whether it be gutting, mudding or sanitizing a structure, distributing needed supplies and donations or volunteering to fill staff positions at a struggling local business….this program in NC has established a precious foothold among its survivors. I am proud to be returning to the NC program in March 2025. ♥️

I had such an amazing experience with All Hands. This was my first experience traveling alone away from home and I felt safe the entire time. I made wonderful friends. I truly felt like we were making an impact. I was seen as a human by the staff who allowed me to use my passion for photography to help make an impact and that changed my life. I made this video!

Wonderful Experience with All Hands and Hearts! I had the privilege of volunteering with All Hands and Hearts Smart Response in 2019 in Sindhuli, Nepal. It was an incredible experience that left an indelible mark on my life. Our team constructed 3 schools and a water supply project, providing the local community with essential infrastructure for quality education. Working with AHAH was a dream come true, as promoting education in underprivileged areas is a cause close to my heart. The organization's dedication to providing disaster-relief and supporting local communities is truly inspiring. The best part of my experience was the opportunity to work with an amazing team of volunteers and staff from diverse backgrounds. We shared a common goal, and our camaraderie made the experience even more enjoyable. I spent three unforgettable weeks in Sindhuli, and I wish I could relive those moments again. As someone who has worked with various humanitarian organizations and runs an orphanage for girl kids in my area, I can confidently say that AHAH stands out for its professionalism, teamwork, and commitment to making a difference. If I could, I would join AHAH again and again. I highly recommend this organization to anyone looking to make a positive impact in the world. Rating: 5/5 stars

AHAH Maui has a dedicated and passionate staff who is genuinly invested in teh wellbeing on local/ Native Hawai'ian people. You will get what you put into immersion with the community. The base is in a very rural area, and is extremely simple. I respect that the program has volunteers campso as no tto take away from limited housing on the island. They really need volunteers right now and I would encourage anyone visiting Maui to give back to the island by supporting organizations like this that uplift local Native organizations.

I volunteered on the program in Abaco, Bahamas in 2020 (cut short by COVID). Some parts of the experience were great, others less so. I wish there had been more emphasis on the impact that we as volunteers have by choosing to fly to a location suffering from a disaster associated with climate change, and I wish there had been more connection with the local community. We were kind of an entity unto ourselves on the base, and the only way I learned about Bahamian history, culture, and lifestyle was from a Couchsurfing host I stayed with the day before flying to Abaco. What made the experience really worthwhile were the people I met on the program, the experiences we had together, and the ability to learn about disaster recovery through restoration and rebuild work. What made it less so was the lack of organization at the time (for instance, I didn't get an orientation, and at one point my site leader was a volunteer promoted to the leadership role that week. She didn't follow proper safety protocols and we accidentally left someone stuck in the rafters with no ladder on the lunch break). My experience on the program was worthwhile and I would do it again, but I wish it was a bit more organized. I know that each AHAH experience is different depending on who the leadership team is for any specific site, so I don't mean this to be a critique of all AHAH locations. I think it's a great initiative and do hope to participate on another project.

Lovely. Pleasant. Felt safe knowing all the protocols All Hands and Hearts had in place. Sometimes it even felt too controlled, but understandable given the situation in Ukraine. Community engagement English club was great.

I had been wanting to volunteer with AHAH for years and finally got the chance this November. I was only there for 2 weeks, but they were the most incredible and fulfilling 2 weeks of my life. It’s true what they say, you get the AHAH bug and never want to leave! I’m already planning my next trip and this time I’ll be going for longer. The sense of community, shared hope and purpose is what’s magical about AHAH. I connected with new people, learnt new skills and experienced a new culture. I now feel part of the AHAH family and know I will always be welcomed back with open arms.

I am one of the many people who is totally addicted to All Hands and Hearts. I have been on 3 of their programs now, and all have been fantastic. The work is very fulfilling, I feel so proud of myself coming back from site and knowing that I have positively impacted a struggling community every day. Base really feels like home, and the other staff and volunteers feel like my family. I adore the experience and will continue to return for many, many years to come!

AHAH is an exceptionally operated volunteer organization that gives people with a desire to physically help the less fortunate/privileged effected by natural disasters, a platform to do so. They foster an all inclusive environment where anyone regardless of age,gender identity, race and religion (or lack of etc…) can give back to society.

I volunteered with AHAH in 2006, when they were just getting started, so my rating on accommodations and amenities is lower, because they were figuring things out. BUT they had lots of everything needed to go out and volunteer day one. We stayed in a church loft (a big one, above a basketball court). Everyone brought their own sleeping bag and blow up mattresses. There were 2 meals served per day, and groups took turns preparing. Our group had about 1/3 who were not physically able to do heavy work, and these folks were our cooks, or they did a huge data entry project. AHAH did their best, but 150 people quickly wore out the plumbing system. However, there was always an option for a bathroom, and they built a few outdoor showers for us. You need to be responsible enough to get up and going early, as the best jobs are already staffed if you wake up late, but there was always something to do. As for projects, we did lots of neighborhood cleanup, helping exhausted homeowners sort through the mess on their properties. Another big job was dangerous tree removal, and mold abatement. There were plenty of tools, PPE, and MREs (for our lunches). I also did dog walking at the local shelter, and a really fun thing we did was help with the local Biloxi, MS MLK parade. It was an experience of a lifetime. The last thing I'd say is bring all your stuff you need. There might not be a store available. AHAH did such a great job with logistics. Transportation is renting your own car, or loading up in a truck to go to a work site. Please volunteer for this organization. They are so amazing.

My time abroad was a transformative journey, both Academically,professionally and personally. I immersed myself in diverse cultures and business environments, which expanded my perspective on global financial systems and administrative practices.

AHAH is a fantastic organization that I could not recommend enough to others. At its core the program is there to work with local communities after disaster to help rebuild in anyway necessary. The vibrant people you will work with- of all ages and parts of the world- take the program to the next level. AHAH is a unique way to connect/ learn about a culture and from the locals as well as a way to meet other good natured people from all over. The work has been inspiring, emotional, and transforming for me as an individual and I look forward immensely to the next opportunity I get to volunteer with AHAH again.

I'm sharing this to inspire other to do the same volunteering with All hands and hearts Has been one of the most rewarding experience of my life. It has given me the opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives off others and has made me a more empathetic and compassionate person. It was a absolute honour to volunteer with other volunteers and the local community seeing everyone on the project giving it there all working with such passion and creativity hit me right in the heart. On top off that volunteering has given me the opportunity to meet the most amazing people from all over the world I feal inspired and overwhelmed with emotions right now and once again to everyone I wish you all the best with you futures stay safe and lots off love Dazza ??✌️✌️❤️❤️❤️

I fabulous 3 month experience with All Hands and Hearts building a school in an area affected by 2015 earthquake of Nepal but still trying to recover today. Really well structured routine for every day, everyone knew what they needed to do and when. Meals provided by locals employed to cook so authentic food and healthy. Great communal accommodation and sleeping facilities indoors or alternatively people can bring their own tents. All basic needs are met by the organisation. Support from the team of staff is excellent and you really feel part of a community. Socially, lots of activities. I particularly loved the camp fire nights and any sporting opportunities that arose with the locals and the school children. Phenomenal experience ... You get to work hard and play hard!