Volunteers desperately needed to help cleanup flooded southeast Michigan homes

Volunteers desperately needed to help cleanup flooded southeast Michigan homes 

DETROIT, Dec. 1, 2014 – A final push is being made to procure volunteers to help southeast Michigan flood victims clean up their homes from the Aug. 11 torrential rain and flooding.

Volunteers can sign up at semichiganflood.givegab.com or by calling 2-1-1. Volunteer opportunities are divided into geographical regions within southeast Michigan. Once registered, volunteers will be connected to a volunteer group which will assist in determining the date, time and location of volunteer cleanup efforts.

The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) announced there are still 200 homes on a high-priority list for residents that have requested volunteer assistance.  There is a desperate need to provide cleanup before winter sets in for good.

“More than three months after the flood, we are finding basements that are still damp and in bad shape,” said Ginna Holmes, executive director of the MCSC. “This damage can’t typically be seen on the outside, but many residents are still in desperate need of assistance. We are asking for any and all volunteers to give a few hours of time to help their neighbors.”

Volunteers are needed to assist with cleanup, muck-out (removing dirt, water, sewage, sand) and removal of damaged and contaminated household goods. Volunteers should be able to handle manual labor, be prepared to get dirty, and ready to handle items that have come in contact with flood water, mold, and sewage.

MCSC is also looking for residents who are able to provide food for volunteers. Those interested in donating food can also register at semichiganflood.givegab.com or by calling 2-1-1.

For more information on volunteer opportunities or the MCSC’s role in the cleanup, contact Jason Alexander, MCSC communications specialist at alexanderj9@Michigan.gov, (517) 335-3407 or (517) 896-2570.

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BACKGROUND:

The Michigan Community Service Commission utilizes service as a strategy to address the state's most pressing issues and empowers volunteers to strengthen communities. In 2014-2015, the MCSC is granting more than $7 million in federal funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities, including funding 25 AmeriCorps programs. The Governor’s Service Awards and Mentor Michigan are also premier initiatives of the MCSC. The MCSC is housed in the Michigan Department of Human Services, whose mission is to assist children, families, and vulnerable adults to be safe, stable, and self-supporting. The Corporation for National and Community Service grants the federal funding the MCSC administers.