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The Volunteer Center of the Triad is responding to COVID-19 by bringing the volunteer community together. As the needs begin to increase, the immediate need for volunteers does as well. The state of North Carolina via the Emergency Operations Center has stated that food banks and other feeding services remain open and are considered “essential.” Volunteers serving at those centers and other feeding opportunities can continue such service even during the “stay at home” order.

Who can volunteer?

The center is recruiting anyone who is healthy and willing to volunteer over the age of 18.

All volunteer locations are practicing social distancing and abiding by all Centers for Disease Control and NC Department of Health & Human Services guidelines.

Who cannot volunteer?

• People 65 and older
• People who work with vulnerable populations
• People suffering from asthma, uncontrolled diabetes, or heart disease
• People who are immunocompromised
• Women who are pregnant

Based upon available information to date, those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 include:

• People aged 65 years and older
• People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
• Other high-risk conditions could include:
  • People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
  • People who have serious heart conditions
  • People who are immunocompromised including cancer treatment
  • People of any age with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] >40) or certain underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, such as those with diabetes, renal failure, or liver disease might also be at risk
• People who are pregnant should be monitored since they are known to be at risk with severe viral illness, however, to date data on COVID-19 has not shown increased risk

Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications

Sign up:

If you meet the criteria and are interested in volunteering and helping out in these unprecedented times, go to https://volunteercentertriad.org/covid-19-response/ and see the opportunities available and sign up.

And if you are a non-profit, church or community group seeking volunteers and/or volunteer assistance, let the center know so awareness can be made known of your need, recruit and mobilize volunteers. The link to the simple form to fill out to request volunteers is https://volunteercentertriad.org/covid-19/

Note that there are other ways to volunteer within your home. Some members of our community are sewing and creating medical masks, others are cooking meals and some are donating food and essentials to be picked up from their doorsteps. There are other virtual opportunities and ideas listed on at https://volunteercentertriad.org/ .