CNCS announces response plan for the BP oil spill

Corporation for National and Community Service announced earlier this week its strategy to engage national service and voluntary assets in responding to economic and environmental damage caused by BP oil spill. The plan was announced at the Conference on Volunteering and Service in New York City and through a field message to the agency's grantees across the nation.


The plan was developed in consultation with state service commissions in Gulf Coast states. It lays out the foundation for short and long-term efforts to build the capacity of Gulf Coast communities and non-profits in order to handle the increasing demand for help with the spill by developing strategies to recruit and manage volunteers.
 
More than 5,000 volunteers are providing a range of response activities, including lining the shores of the Gulf, monitoring coastlines and more. There will also be more than 500 Learn and Serve Summer of Service members assisting in environmental restoration and public information activities this summer. But because it is hazardous and dangerous to handle, the role of volunteers are restricted. That's why the plan carefully assesses what volunteers can and can not do.
 
Since this is the largest oil spill in U.S. history, it will take all the volunteers it can get. For more information on the oil spill pick up, click on the link below.
http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/factsheet_serviceresponse_oilspill.pdf