Group size may be 2 – 25 people.
Groups may be formed from people interested in working at the same time. Additional people may flex to join with a group on a specific date.
Age may vary from 16 - 80+ years (under 18 requires a parent to accompany them).
Generally, work can be found to accommodate a variety of skill levels and physical abilities.
Larger groups require more planning and lead time prior to leaving on trip. Smaller groups can be more nimble in their planning.
Trip length may be from 1 day to a week.
Less than 2 hrs travel to work (Valdosta, Donalsonville, Colquitt, Columbus) can be done in day trips
2 – 5 hrs travel to work (Mobile, Waycross) may be done in 2 – 4 day trips (weekend or extended weekend) or longer.
More than 5 hours travel to work (NC, SC, TN, KY) would likely be longer trips up to a week.
The team would decide how long they wanted to stay versus the travel time to get there.
Some team members may work less than the full trip as their schedule allows.
Skills needed
Skills needed may vary from trip to trip. Most skills can be taught to willing volunteers with on-the-job training during the trip.
Typical Relief work might include: limb and tree removal, yard clean-up, “mucking out” a house (removing everything that is water damaged – furniture, sheetrock, carpet, etc).
Typical Rebuilding work might include: framing and trim carpentry, sheetrock, painting, installing flooring (wood, tile, linoleum), installing windows and doors.
One Point of Contact (POC) with local resources - arranges accommodations, understands work to be performed, represents the group with any limitations.
One trained team leader (Faith Responder Training) - this role may handle POC responsibilities above.
Construction leader - someone with some construction knowledge. Knows when to contact local people for help, such as building codes.
Homeowner support – establish contact with homeowner, hear their story and help with any concerns as works progresses.
Other roles to be covered – safety, historian (pictures), tool management, cooks.
Logistics / Accommodations
Accommodations vary widely. The team needs to be flexible.
Sleeping has been on air mattresses on school or church floors, on cots, in bunk beds and once in a hotel.
Kitchen facilities go from none (eat out or camp cook) to full church kitchens. For larger groups, having dedicated cooks as part of the team is a blessing.
Some (most) camps have shower facilities, others may require going to another location or a truck stop.
Some places have tools for team use; others need us to bring tools. The church has a fair assortment of tools we can take.
