VolunteerLEON - Programs - Emergency Support Function 15

VolunteerLEON is the lead agency for Emergency Support Function (ESF) #15 (Volunteers and Donations) in coordination with the Leon County Sheriff's Office Division of Emergency Management, as well as the community’s hub for volunteerism. The purpose of the Volunteers and Donations Support Function is to be the "check-in point" for any individual or group which may volunteer to assist in the post-disaster recovery of Leon County, who has not previously affiliated with any emergency response organization. The check-in point is the Volunteer Reception Center. In addition, ESF 15 is responsible for organizing, tracking, consolidating, and distributing any and all donations that may come to the County after a major disaster in collaboration with the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.

As ESF 15, VolunteerLEON's role is to:
Serve as the focal point to which all volunteers report, where their skills are verified and from which they are reassigned to the areas where they can be most useful.
Categorize the abilities of the individuals or groups and then refer them, based on the needs of the County, the American Red Cross, and other community based organizations.
Coordinate with the different County departments and community based organizations to determine what supplies are in immediate demand, compile a list, and then work with the Public Information Officer to advertise our needs.
Organize, inventory, package, and redistribute all donations arriving in the County, whether by bus, truck, airplane, or rail.
Set up a distribution network to warehouse all donations and re-supply the different distribution points that may be established throughout the County.
Other Disaster Preparedness & Response Initiatives
Citizens Information Center	Volunteer Reception Center
COAD - Community Organizations Active in Disasters

VolunteerLEON has served successfully as the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management Emergency Support Function (ESF) 15, Volunteers and Donations, Coordinator for more than 12 years; volunteers and donations are an integral part of the County’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. Building on that success, VolunteerLEON convened the COAD - Community Organizations Active in Disasters to solidify and expand partnerships between emergency management, first responders, community based organizations, and citizens in the 8 county Big Bend area. We invite you to join the growing cross section of community agencies and concerned citizens who are taking an active role in preparing our community for all types of disaster.