Service Opportunities

No matter what your interest, background or skill set – there is a way for you to help.  Medical and Non-medical volunteers always needed for positions including the following.   Volunteer roles and responsibilities depend on a members physical ability, interest, training and expertise.  It is one of our MRC Core Competencies that you will never be expected to perform a service you are not capable of or comfortable with!  Once you apply to be an MRC volunteer, you are never obligated to respond when asked.  However, if you think you might like to help others during a disaster, it is mandatory that you have joined a unit and completed our training requirements.  This ensures a level of disaster-related competency while helping people while they are vulnerable.

  • Vaccination Clinics

Each year MRC provides medical and non-medical staffing for Annual Flu clinics.   Right now we are staffing COVID Vaccination Clinics – and this will likely continue for many months.  The best type person for these positions include those who are organized, compassionate, able to follow instructions and function independently. With the COVID clinics, a great deal of flexibility is needed by volunteers, as the Rosters cannot be sent much more in advance of the day before a clinic.  We realize this is not ideal – however, there are so many variables with the vaccine delivery and the vaccination events – that it’s the best we can do right now. The supply of volunteers currently exceeds the number of shifts we are being asked to fill.  We anticipate this will change as more and more vaccine become available and the parameters for eligibility expand.   Required Training

  • Respond to Disasters 

Generally the MRC is used to support a response later in a situation after the Incident Commander has completed an initial assessment and identified the immediate services that are required.  Typically a Unit Coordinator is then asked by EMD’s, Town or Board of Health Officials, to provide volunteer support to our community by staffing emergency shelters that open when people have to evacuate their homes.  There are many jobs to done during an emergency shelter operation, including: registration, security, food service, and providing medical and mental health services  The best type person for these positions include those who are organized, compassionate, able to follow instructions and function independently.   Required Training

  • Teach Community Emergency Preparedness

Become a part of a Cadre of Leadership Volunteers who train othersThis is what we are known for.   We teach preparedness to Individuals, Families, for Workplaces and Pet Owners (via Berkshire DART).  We encourage everyone to have an 72 hour Emergency Kit for sheltering in place or a GO-KIT to bring with them if they have to evacuate – and show them cost -efficient ways to compile these, and what are often useful items to include.  We often do this during outreach events where something else is also going on – but we are often asked to send speakers/trainers to community groups or organizations to carry the message of preparedness. The best type person for these positions include those who like public speaking, have a sense of humor to help in the delivery of information that can sometimes be difficult to discuss, and can function independently.  Required Training

  • Staffing During Outreach Events 

There are several special events that we are part of during the year – most of these are during the summer. This is where we teach hundreds of people easy things they can do now – to be prepared for emergencies if the strike later.  Check the CALENDAR to see where you can fit it.  You can work independently or as part of a team.  The best type person for these positions include people- people and the desire to have fun.  Required Training

  • Administrative or Technological Support 

There is always something to do that involves clerical or technology based support – such as posting flyers or overseeing some Social Media messages on Facebook and Twitter. The best type person for these positions include those who are organized,  able to follow instructions and function independently. Required Training

Emergency Communications/Amateur Radio Operators 

We can arrange for a course to prepare you for your HAM Radio license (often at no cost to you).  Some MRC Units may even be able to equip you with a radio so that you can continue learning and be able to effectively help during disasters.   Required Training -in addition to earning an operators license.

  • Disaster Animal Response Team

Each of the four Counties in our Western MA region has a DART team and we are always looking for members.  We are equipped to set up and operate emergency animal shelters that run concurrent to shelters opened to help evacuees that are pet owners.  This way, people will never leave their pets behind when the must leave their home. Nor will they ignore recommendations to evacuate because they can’t take their animals with them.  Required Training

  • Specialized Response Teams 

The MRC strives to meet the needs of everyone who may be impacted by disaster. Because we sometimes learn of planning gaps in local emergency plans, we are working to form specialized teams to target needs in the following areas during emergency sheltering operations or other disaster setting.

Mediation/conflict resolution; Children; Functional Access Needs (including Autism), Substance Dependancy.

  • Have a Specialized Skill? 

We always need help with things like Graphic Design, Public Relations, Fundraising, Photography and more.

Most likely there is something you can do to help. We invite you to share your passion with the Medical Reserve Corps!

Let us help you determine a good fit for you.