Welcome!
Disaster Relief & Recovery
Helping Hands International remains committed to providing Disaster Relief and Recovery services for U.S. Natural Disaster Survivors. Please see below for a list of opportunities to serve!
NEW PROJECT: Arkansas - Tornado Relief
Project Information
Project: Tornado Relief
Location: Arkansas
HHI is planning to serve in the areas surrounding Little Rock, Arkansas, which were recently impacted by tornadoes. Specifically, we plan to partner with Samaratin's Purse and serve Tornado Victims in the town of Sherwood, AR. We will be deploying our teams from Oregon to Arkansas. Click the "Register Now" button on the right side of this page to Volunteer with us or call Ken Snelling, HHI Disaster Relief & Recovery Coordinator, at (541-414-3320) for more information.
Dates:
04/16/23-04/22/23 - CANCELLED AS OF 4/10/23 DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS AT BASE
Trip Fee: $50 (per person, per week) - excludes airfare
Registration: If you are interested in helping on this project, please click here to register.
Fundraising: To donate to this Disaster Relief & Recovery project, please click here.
Volunteers Needed: 8-10 volunteers per week
Minimum Age Limit: 18 years old
Project Details:
Volunteers will assist Tornado Survivors, in Jesus' name, with debris cleanup, possible chainsaw work, and sharing the gospel. We need clean-up and construction (e.g. skilled and unskilled) Volunteers.
Accommodations: Overnight accommodations will be provided by Helping Hands International, through Samaritan's Purse, and will include meals and lodging.
What to Expect:
- Complete Helping Hands International's online registration form.
- HHI will get in touch with you about the project.
- Once your application is approved, HHI's Disaster Relief & Recovery Coordinator (Ken Snelling - (541) 414-3320 will reach out with project details, including but not limited to travel and logistics information.
- Travel as a team to Little Rock, AR.
- Arrive as a team at AR base site (Sherwood, AR).
- Serve as a team at Tornado Survivor home(s) - Sherwood, AR.
- Return to Medford, OR.
What to Bring:
- A heart to serve the people of Arkansas
- Twin size air mattress or cot
- Linens/sleeping bag
- Pillow
- Towels
- Personal hygiene items
- Long pants and rubber boots
Health & Safety:
Have more questions?
- Contact Ken Snelling, HHI Disaster Relief & Recovery Coordinator, at (541) 414-3320.
Loving our Neighbor
Galatians 5:14 says, "For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Helping Hands International expresses this love through Disaster Relief & Recovery service projects which typically are comprised of a HHI Team Leader and 8-10 Volunteers who are trained and sent out to Disaster Relief sites within the USA.
Currently, we are planning to help our neighbors in Arkansas who have been impacted by Tornadoes by providing debris removal, roof tarping, and sharing the gospel.
Will you considering joining the Team?
COMPLETED PROJECT: N. CALIFORNIA - FLOOD Relief
Project Information
Project: Flood Relief
Location: Bay Area
HHI is planning to serve the Santa Cruz area which was recently impacted by flooding. Specifically, we plan to serve Flood Victims in the towns of Felton, CA and Boulder Creek, CA. We will be deploying our teams from Redwood Christian Park Camp and Retreat Center. Click the "Register Now" button on the right side of this page to Volunteer with us or call Ken Snelling, HHI Disaster Relief & Recovery Coordinator, at (541-414-3320) for more information.
Dates:
01/29/23-02/04/23 - completed
02/05/23-02/11/23 - cancelled
02/12/23-02/18/23 - cancelled
Trip Fee: $50 (per person, per week)
Registration: If you are interested in helping on this project, please click here to register.
Fundraising: To donate to this Disaster Relief & Recovery project, please click here.
Volunteers Needed: 8-10 volunteers per week
Minimum Age Limit: 18 years old
Project Details:
Volunteers will assist Flood Survivors, in Jesus' name, with mud outs, debris cleanup, and possible chainsaw work in response to damage sustained from recent floods. We need clean-up and construction (e.g. skilled and unskilled) Volunteers.
Accommodations: Overnight accommodations will be provided by Helping Hands International, via Redwood Christian Park Camp and Retreat Center, and will include meals and lodging.
What to Expect:
- Complete Helping Hands International's online registration form.
- HHI will get in touch with you about the project.
- Once your application is approved, HHI's Disaster Relief & Recovery Coordinator (Ken Snelling - (541) 414-3320) will reach out with project details, including but not limited to travel and logistics information.
- Travel as a team to CA.
- Arrive as a team at CA base site (Redwood Christian Park).
- Serve as a team at Flood Survivor home(s) - Felton and Boulder Creek, CA.
- Return to Medford, OR.
What to Bring:
- A heart to serve the people of California
- Twin size air mattress or cot
- Linens/sleeping bag
- Pillow
- Towels
- Personal hygiene items
- Long pants and rubber boots
Health & Safety:
Have more questions?
- Contact Ken Snelling, HHI Disaster Relief & Recovery Coordinator, at (541) 414-3320.
Loving our Neighbor
We are planning to help our neighbors in N. California who have been impacted by floods by providing mud outs, debris cleanup and sharing the gospel.
Will you considering joining the Team?
COMPLETED PROJECT: Florida - Hurricane Relief
Project Information
Project: Hurricane Relief
Location: (1) Fort Myers, Florida & (2) Punta Gorda, Florida
Dates:
11/27/22-12/03/22 - Location (1) - completed
12/04/22-12/10/22 - Location (2) - completed
12/11/22-12/17/22 - Location (1) - cancelled
Please note: This trip fee does not include the cost of airfare, which is estimated at $900 per person, roundtrip, and must be arranged separately AFTER your registration form has been submitted, reviewed and approved by HHI Staff.
Registration: If you are interested in helping on this project, please click here to register.
Fundraising: To donate to this Disaster Relief & Recovery project, please click here.
Volunteers Needed: 8-10 volunteers per week
Minimum Age Limit: 18 years old
Project Details:
Volunteers will assist Hurricane Survivors, in Jesus' name, with mud outs, roof tarping, debris cleanup, and possible chainsaw work in response to damage sustained from Hurricane Ian. Please see "important Pre-Trip Information" below.
Accommodations: Overnight accommodations will be provided by Samaritans' Purse and will include meals and lodging at a local church. Please see "important Pre-Trip Information" below for more details.
What to Expect:
- Complete Helping Hands International's online registration form.
- HHI will get in touch with you about the project.
- Once your application is approved, HHI's Disaster Relief & Recovery Coordinator (Ken Snelling - (541) 414-3320) will reach out with project details, including but not limited to travel and logistics information.
- HHI will also send you a link to Samaritan's Purse online registration form (yes, this form is required too!) and a travel agent contact so that you can book your flights.
- Travel as a team to FL.
- Arrive as a team at Samaritan's Purse base site (e.g. local church).
- Serve as a team at Hurricane Survivor homes between the service date list above.
- Return to Medford, OR on the last project date.
What to Bring:
- A heart to serve the people of Florida
- Twin size air mattress or cot
- Linens/sleeping bag
- Pillow
- Towels
- Personal hygiene items
- Long pants and sturdy boots
- Optional: personal tool belts and small hand tools
Health & Safety:
Have more questions?
- Contact Ken Snelling, HHI Disaster Relief & Recovery Coordinator, at (541) 414-3320.
Loving our Neighbor
We are helping our neighbors in Florida who have been impacted by Hurricane Ian by providing mud outs, roof tarping, debris cleanup and sharing the gospel.
Will you considering joining the Team?
Completed PROJECT: N. California - Fire Relief
Project Information
Project: Fire Relief
Location: McKinney Fire, Yeti Fire, and Mill Fire - Siskiyou County, OR
Dates: 10/04/22 & 10/06/22
* Please note: Daily deployments are subject to change, dependent on access to fire zones, availability of Fire Survivors and weather conditions.
Estimated Cost: $0 (this is a free service project)
Registration: If you are interested in helping on this project, please click here to register.
Fundraising: To donate to this Disaster Relief & Recovery project, please click here.
Volunteers Needed: 8-10 volunteers per day
Minimum Age Limit: 18 years old
Project Details:
Volunteers will assist Fire Victims, in Jesus' name, with sifting the remains of damaged homes, businesses and property due to the N. California McKinney, Yeti, and Mill fires.
Accommodations: NA - We will be traveling between S. Oregon and N. California between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on a daily basis. There will be no overnight accommodations.
What to Expect:
- Apply online and an HHI Team Member will get in touch with you about the project.
- Once approved to volunteer, meet at HHI office (600 Whitman Place, Medford OR 97501) at 8 a.m. on service day.
- Review status of McKinney, Yeti and Mill fires discuss damage incurred to-date, complete health and safety training and go over list of Fire Victims on the service schedule for that day.
- Drive as a Team, in HHI's Shuttle bus, at 8:30 a.m. to first Fire Victim's home and begin Fire Relief and Recovery process.
- Serve first Fire Victim between 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Break for lunch between 12:30-1:30 p.m.
- Drive to second Fire Victim and serve between 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Return to HHI office (600 Whitman Place, Medford OR 97501) around 5:30 p.m.
What to Bring:
- Bring good work gloves, closed toed work boots, pants, a sack lunch, snacks, and plenty of water! HHI will provide gloves, masks and sifting related safety equipment.
Health & Safety:
Have more questions?
- Contact Ken Snelling, HHI Disaster Relief & Recovery Coordinator, at (541) 414-3320.
Loving our Neighbor
We are helping local Northern California Fire Victims impacted by the McKinney Fire (burning in the Oak Knoll Ranger District of the Klamath National Forest in western Siskiyou County), Yeti and Mill fires by primarily providing sifting assistance to their damaged home, business or property.
Will you considering joining the Team?
COMPLETED PROJECT: S. ORegon - Heat Relief
Project Information
Project: Heat Relief
Location: Jackson & Josephine County, OR
Dates:
Week #1: 7/28/22-7/29/22
Week #2: 8/01/22-8/05/22
Week #3: 8/08/22- 8/11/22
Estimated Cost: $0 (this is a free service project)
Volunteers Needed:
Week #1: 3 volunteers
Week #2: 8-10 volunteers
Week #3: 3-5 volunteers
Minimum Age Limit: 18 years old
Project Details:
Volunteers will assist homeowners, in Jesus' name, with installing portable air conditioning units to beat triple digit heat wave impacting S. Oregon.
Accommodations: NA - This is not an overnight project.
What to Expect:
- Apply online and an HHI Team Member will get in touch with you about the project.
- Once approve to volunteer, meet at HHI office (600 Whitman Place, Medford OR 97501) at 9 a.m. the day of service.
- Go over list of air conditioning recipients, resident addresses, and unit installation.
- Deliver and install units to recipients in need.
- Return to HHI office (600 Whitman Place, Medford OR 97501) around 1 p.m. (Please note: The project may go beyond 1 p.m. depending on the volume of Volunteers and Recipients.)
What to Bring:
- Bring a sack lunch, gloves, mask (if desired), and plenty of water!
Health & Safety:
Have more questions?
- Contact Ken Snelling, HHI Disaster Relief & Recovery Coordinator, at (541) 414-3320.
Loving our Neighbor
Currently, we are helping local Southern Oregon residents, who are 65 or older or disabled (any age) and are Medicare/Medicaid recipients, install portable air conditioning units to provide heat relief during this Summer's triple digit heat wave! Will you considering joining the Team?
Closed Project: Southern Oregon - Fires
Disaster Relief Information
January 2021
We are happy to announce that by God's grace, your generous donations, and our >500 volunteers who expressed interest in joining us, Helping Hands International, Inc. has been able to complete the following 2020 Disaster Relief efforts following the S. Oregon fires to-date.
Phase 1: Food Distribution - Distributed approximately 12k meals at the Jackson County Expo. to S. Oregon Fire Victims and those in need.
Phase 2: Sifting Teams - Sifted approximately 64 homes and gave out a similar number of gift cards, totaling approximately $32k, to Fire Victims.
Phase 3: Gift Cards - Gave out approximately 95 gift cards, totaling approximately $47,500, to individuals and families impacted by the S. Oregon Fires through the Talent-Phoenix Schools, Armadillo Technical Institute, Logos Public Charter School and Kids Unlimited Academy Public Charter School.
We continue to receive online applications for assistance and are evaluating them on a case by case basis. If you (or someone you know) lost their home in the fire, please have them fill out the Fire Victims Needs Assessment link today - thank you!
Helping our Neighbor
Helping Hands International is continuing to assess the impact of the Southern Oregon fires (September 2020). If you, or someone you know, still needs help, please complete the Fire Victims Needs Assessment form today and an HHI Staff Member will contact you to discuss how we may be able to provide Disaster Relief assistance!
LATEST UPDATES
2023
APRIL - NEW VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY! HHI is in the process of assembling Team Leaders for a possible Disaster Relief trip to assist Tornado Survivors in Arkansas. Meanwhile, we have started raising funds for the relief effort - click here for more information!
MARCH - NEW VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY! HHI is sending out a small team to assist a disabled S. Oregon fire Survivor, who recently moved out of her FEMA trailer into an apartment.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY - NEW VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY! HHI is sending Disaster Relief Volunteer teams to N. California to provide assistance to flood Survivors impacted by heavy rain in recent weeks! If you are interested in Volunteering, please call Ken Snelling at (541) 414-3320 or click here to register!
2022
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER - NEW VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY! HHI is sending Disaster Relief Volunteer teams to Florida to provide assistance to Survivors impacted by Hurricane Ian! If you are interested assisting Hurricane Ian Survivors the weeks of 11/27/22, 12/4/22 or 12/11/22, please click here to register!
OCTOBER - NEW VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY! HHI is sending Disaster Relief Volunteer teams to Northern California to provide assistance to Fire Survivors impacted by the McKinney, Yeti, and Mill fires! We are also assembling teams to go to Florida to assist Hurricane Ian Survivors; click here to register!
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER - NEW VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY! Starting at the end of this month, HHI will be sending Disaster Relief Volunteer teams to Northern California to provide assistance to Fire Survivors impacted by the McKinney and Yeti fires!
JULY/AUGUST - NEW VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY! Starting 7/29/22, HHI is partnering with the Oregon Health Authority's Health and Human Services group responsible for distributing portable air conditioners to deliver and install units to individuals who are 65 or older or disabled (any age) and are Medicare/Medicaid recipients! Will you help us "Beat the Heat!" in S. Oregon as we experience triple digit temperatures this Summer? Click here to register to volunteer.
JUNE/JULY - NEW PART-TIME GRANT AWARDED! Earlier this year HHI prayerfully decided to create a new part-time Disaster Relief & Recovery Coordinator position and submitted a formal grant application to the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to see if they would be willing to fund this new role. We are happy to share that the Trust made an affirmative funding decision at the end of May (praise the Lord!) and, as of July 1st, we were able to welcome Ken Snelling as a new HHI team member!
