Written by: Robin Hattersley – Jan. 10, 2025
Editor’s Note: If you are interested in making donations to help out with recovery from the 2025 Los Angeles fires, please visit LAWorks.com/2025Fires.
Administrators responsible for the safety and security of schools, institutions of higher education and healthcare facilities must not only try to prevent, respond and mitigate a tragedy, such as a mass violence incident, but must also plan for how the campus will recover. One aspect of recovery is the large number of people who usually want to help, either by volunteering their time and services or making donations of money or supplies to the recovery effort. Although this generosity is greatly appreciated by the victims and the community, managing the flood of volunteers and donations that come in immediately after a mass tragedy can be overwhelming.
In this video, Kathryn H. Floyd, Ph.D., who is a mass violence and terrorism visiting fellow at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, describes the steps campuses and other organizations can take to make the process more manageable.
Many People Make Donations and Volunteer After a Major Tragedy
She discusses what organizations might expect to experience in terms of volunteers and donations after an mass violence incident. Additionally, she explains the difference between credentialed volunteers and spontaneous volunteers, and how campuses can manage them effectively. Floyd also covers the different types donations and how organizations can combat fraudulent Go Fund Me campaigns.
Although this video focuses on incidents of mass violence, her suggestions also apply to other tragedies involving severe weather, wildfires, other natural disasters, HAZMAT emergencies, and other events that have a severe negative impact on a community.
VIDEO LINK –
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Video URL – https://youtu.be/BXqoITczDaE
For additional information and resources on planning for volunteers and donations after a mass violence event, visit www.ovc.gov.
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