Prepare Your Community for Emergencies Through Inclusive Volunteering
In these uncertain times, every community is looking for ways to increase community safety, preparedness, and resilience in case of a disaster.
The Arc is honored to partner with AmeriCorps once again and offer $5,000 – $15,000 grants to chapters of The Arc and other community organizations to develop inclusive September 11 Day of Service and Remembrance projects.
These projects not only prepare communities for emergencies — they give all volunteers the opportunity to develop skills, build relationships, and show that despite the perception of people with disabilities as the ones in need of service, they can and do give back to their communities.
Grant Guidelines
Keynote volunteer events must be held on the September 11, 2023 National Day of Service and Remembrance. Additional volunteer activities will also occur throughout the duration of the grant period as well (ending September 30, 2023). Emergency preparedness volunteer events should start no later than May 2023 and build up to the September 11 weekend events.
Volunteer activities should focus on strengthening emergency preparedness and resilience and have tangible outcomes that help impact your community.
Grantees will:
- Partner with a service club to recruit volunteers with and without disabilities from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to participate in the project.
- Work with emergency preparedness groups or local first responders (e.g., Fire, EMS, or police departments) to train and increase community safety, preparedness, and resilience in your community in case of a disaster.
- Implement a keynote event on the September 11 Day of Service and Remembrance (September 11, 2023).
- Hold volunteer service activities throughout the grant term building up to the September 11 Day of Service and Remembrance. Volunteer activities should start no later than May 2023.
Questions? Contact Kerry Mauger at mauger@thearc.org.
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
