HERE TO HELP
Volunteers eager to lend a hand even as coronavirus limits in-person interactions
Even as people are being urged to stay home and maintain social distance to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19, there are agencies and organizations seeking volunteers to provide essential services and help their neighbors.
“The wonderful thing that we’re seeing is so many people want to help,” UlsterCorps Director Beth Albright said Tuesday. She said the challenge, though, is keeping people safe.
“That’s challenging when we’re all supposed to be keeping our distance from one another,” Albright said. She said there is a further challenge in that the situation with COVID-19 is continually changing and so are the
“We’re really trying to do this in a careful way. And the parameters are constantly changing.” — Beth Albright, UlsterCorps director
needs for volunteers.
UlsterCorps, according to its website, is a countywide resource dedicated to fostering a culture of volunteerism, collaborative work, and community service. The organization is currently compiling a list of COVID-19 related volunteer needs from local agencies and non-profits and sharing them online at www.ulstercorps.org/covid19, as well as on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UlsterCorps
and through “Action Alerts.”
The alerts notify potential volunteers of opportunities that are available or provide information on specific types of volunteer opportunities they might be interested in.
Albright said it is important for volunteers to preregister for opportunities given the need to limit people’s social interactions. She said people can call or text UlsterCorps for more information. Albright also urged volunteers to continue following health guidelines, such as washing their hands
and staying six feet away from other people.
“We’re really trying to do this in a careful way,” Albright said. “And the parameters are constantly changing.” She said the focus is to find a balance between volunteering and keeping people safe. Still, it is wonderful that people want to help and UlsterCorps has seen a “tremendous increase” in the number of people volunteering, Albright said.
UlsterCorps will continue to maintain information about organizations in Ulster County and updating their volunteer needs on its
website, not just during the time of crisis, but also during the recovery period and into the future, Albright said.
For instance, Albright said that Ulster County is currently recruiting volunteers to help with its COVID-19 hotline, while groups in Kingston and New Paltz are seeking volunteers to help with meal deliveries. She said UlsterCorps is also looking for ways people can volunteer remotely, rather than inperson.
During a briefing aired online, both Ulster County
Executive Pat Ryan and County Health Commissioner Dr. Carol Smith spoke about the volunteers helping with the county’s COVID-19 hotline.
Ryan said the hotline, which can be reached at (845) 443-8888, is being staffed by employees and volunteers. He said there were nearly 300 calls received on Monday and the volume of calls is expected to increase. There are 20 volunteers working the phones, so calls are being answered, Ryan added.
“We also are receiving calls from community
members looking to see what they can do,” Smith said. “How they can help. And that’s very much appreciated.” She said the hotline has been a huge success and she appreciates the volunteers from UlsterCorps who are helping man the phone bank.
For more information on volunteering through UlsterCorps, call (845) 4810331 or text “UlsterCorps” to 22828 to get started.
For local coverage related to the coronavirus, go to bit.ly/DFCOVID19. For live updates, visit bit.ly/DFcovid19live.