Volunteers Needed For U of M Post-tornado Outreach in North Minneapolis

Volunteers are needed starting Thursday, May 26, for North Minneapolis outreach teams to be deployed by the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center in conjunction with city-led tornado relief efforts.

The UROC Hand to Hand effort will deploy teams of volunteers both morning and afternoon to go door to door in North Minneapolis to check in with residents, drop off food and household supplies and provide information about community resources available to meet needs related to housing, health and other areas.

The outreach initiative, which will complement similar efforts under way by Urban Homeworks and other organizations, was spurred by needs identified during city-led coordination meetings involving many officials, community leaders and key North Minneapolis organizations including UROC.

Shifts of volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and/or from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the UROC building, which is located at 2001 Plymouth Avenue, Minneapolis, just blocks from tornado-damaged streets. Orientation will take place promptly at 9 am. and 1 p.m.

Outreach teams are needed on Friday, May 27, as well. Volunteers should report to the UROC building at 9 a.m. or 1 p.m. Friday; UROC staff will connect volunteers wherever they are needed that day for ongoing North Side outreach and assessment efforts.

Volunteer details
• Volunteers are welcome to drive or carpool to the UROC building.
• A University of Minnesota van (provided by Parking and Transportation Services) will provide transportation to and from the East Bank campus Thursday for faculty, staff and students who wish to join the relief effort. The van will depart from the Oak Street entrance of the McNamara Alumni Center at 8:30 a.m. and return by 12:30 p.m. The next departure time is 1 p.m. and return at 5 p.m. Updated information about van location and departure times will be posted on the web at http://www.uroc.umn.edu/tornado/.
• Volunteers are encouraged to wear University shirts, if possible, and closed-toe shoes. Those who don’t have University apparel may pick up t-shirts at UROC thanks to a donation by the University Bookstore.
• Box lunches for volunteers will be donated by the University through the Campus Club.
• The UROC staff prefers that volunteers, who should be at least 18 years of age, sign up for a shift in advance, but welcomes everyone regardless.
• University employees may use vacation time to volunteer with the permission of their supervisors.
• To sign up for a shift, call (612) 626-UROC or send an email to uroc@umn.edu with the subject line “Volunteer” (indicate in the message whether you plan to come at 9 a.m. or 1 p.m.)
• For more information, please visit the UROC tornado relief page