Street Angel Program

1. Street Angel Program Presented by Karen King Founder/Coordinator www.streetangel.org

2. Neighborhood off Stewart Ave

3. House on Stewart Ave

4. Bressette/Phipps Home

5. House on Stewart Ave

6. End of Stewart Ave

7. The morning after 6.1

8. Why did I get started? • 13 family members consisting of 3 different families living at my house the night of June 1st. • They were increasingly frustrated not knowing what services were available to them. • There was no form of communication other than texting or word of mouth. Phones were not working, electricity was down, internet was down.

9. People’s Needs during Crisis • To know who the “go to” people were in town for different services so that they didn’t have false expectations that certain agencies such as Red Cross, FEMA, MEMA, town would be –”making it all better” • Survivors couldn’t leave their home sites since they had to cleanup, meet with insurance people, they were tired, overwhelmed. Therefore it was important that we go to them. • They needed hope to be able to move forward, food for energy. Someone to ask questions of, tell their stories to.

10. FEMA was on the ground 6.2

11. Solutions • Set up “out-posts” where basic supplies (water,food) and flyers with info were at the end of streets or “quadrants” • Flyers offered phone numbers, schedules for meetings, available meals. • Set up a “hotline” number for people to call with needs. This hotline number is now a clearing house for matching up needs with volunteers or other services available. • Command Center-First Church of Monson where it was “one stop shopping” for questions, services, hot meals, pantry of food.

12. Benefits • At First Church it was a place to find neighbors in order to talk and start the healing process. Over 2500 meals served daily. • Volunteer hotline was matching scores of volunteers with needs of the survivors. • Access to supplies for both volunteers and survivors at church that have been brought in by “spontaneous volunteers” as well as Red Cross. • FEMA, MEMA, and Counselors were stationed at the church since formal shelter/emergency center was limited with “red tape” and terrible location.

13. Street Angel Flyer • Neighbors Helping Neighbors – Monson “Street Angels” • Monson Volunteer HOTLINE 413-258-0207 • Need help? – call the hotline • Want to help? – call the hotline • _____________________________________________________________________ • Catholic Charities will be reimbursing you for your deductibles. Please call Kathryn at 413-452-0605. This is an ecumenical service and they will come to Monson to take your application. • If you are having any issues with your insurance company, please call the office of consumer affairs at 1-888-283-3757. They will help you and make a difference! • ____________________________________________________________________ • Monson Tree Planting Event • On Veterans and Cushman Fields! • Meet at Veterans Field on State Street • When: Saturday, October 15, 2011 @ 9:00 am • Bring your shovel! Bring your friends! • Help start to re-plant Monson • Volunteers are asked to sign up to help at this event: • Hope Bodwell 267-4100 or hbodwell@monson-ma.gov • Leslie Duthie 267-4859 or lduthie@verizon.net • MONSON HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY • DATE: Saturday, October 22, 2011 • TIME: 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. • PLACE: Monson Highway Garage @ 198R Main Street

14. Street Angel Flyer-Hurricane • Neighbors Helping Neighbors – Monson Street Angels • Please read important Hurricane Preparedness info on back • Monson Volunteer HOTLINE 413-258-0207 • Need help? – call the hotline • Want to help? – call the hotline • Or stop by • Monson Volunteer Coordinators will be at the gazebo from 8am-2pm every Saturday and Sunday until the work orders are completed. • Mass Cleanup Weekend September 10th and 11th. September 11th is National Day of Service and we have several large groups coming in to help in Monson’s cleanup. We will be having chippers, chainsaws, groups to haul wood, and work in and out of homes. Available to you at no charge! Please call the hotline to schedule your home to be placed on our list of work orders!!! • REMINDER: Monson Tornado Relief Fund is accepting applications until September 15th. Be sure to go onto the Town of Monson website, or visit the town offices or library to get your application. The Town of Monson wants to be sure this fund helps all survivors so don’t miss out!!

15. Latest Updates since July 1st. • Monson Developmental Center donated the use of an entire building for use of Volunteer Efforts. This includes a full working kitchen, rooms/beds that can house over 200 volunteers. • We have had groups staying for weekends of up to 150 volunteers. • Fundraising efforts have raised over $30,000 which include a $20,000 grant from Community Foundation of Western MA to help offset rebuilding costs of our residents.

16. Collaboration- 9 months later • We have now collaborated with the Monson Long Term Recovery Committee that will take over the larger projects and rebuilding of Monson • Street Angels are still necessary in order to get the spread the word about services and options available to those in need. Also to provide hope for those frustrated with short fallings of their insurance company. • We keep our eyes open for people in need of help.

17. Monson Homegrown Christmas • Collaboration with Long Term Recovery and Street Angels

18. Latest projects • A welcome basket for every homeowner as they move back home • A housewarming shower for some residents who are under-insured • Circle of Faith-9 churches rebuilding a home

19. Challenges • Having a 501C3 • Building a team with people who work well with others. • Lack of volunteer enthusiasm after 9 months. • Recruiting • Money • State regs –re: lead paint, environmental concerns • Building an infrastructure from the ground up including web capabilities- former residents have now created recovers.org • Training • FEMA is very scattered within their organization

20. Street Angels after 9 months • Daily calls to and from survivors looking for resources/help. • Collaboration with area churches to help those who have short falls with insurance company or who are uninsured. • Daily struggles to find people help they need. • Facebook dedicated page as well as posts on Monson Tornado Watch 2011-and monitoring all posts to see who needs help • We are still the “go to” people for FEMA for follow up on progress and have been mentioned in the Homeland Security Western and Central MA tornado follow up report as a large part of the volunteer efforts. We are now used as an example for other areas-already for Berkshires/VT

21. Follow up • Newspapers are calling for updates. • Leader of the towns newest committee-Tornado Anniversary Committee to honor our first responders/volunteers • Speaking in front of groups in order to keep the needs of our residents in the forefront of peoples minds so that we can continue to get assistance • Many reports for improvement of Emergency Response coming in now with Street Angels as an integral part of this recovery.

22. Karen King update • Recently appointed to be the Town of Monson Volunteer Coordinator for future disasters • Thanks to a sponsorship by the United Way, attending the NVOAD –National Volunteer Organizations Organized in Disaster Conference in May-Norfolk VA • Chairperson of the Monson Tornado Anniversary Committee • Member of the Tornado Relief Fund Committee, Planning Board, Community Preservation