All articles tagged with #volunteers
Two weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, Roxanne Sullivan walked through rain to the Flight 93 crash site outside Shanksville to pray for the victims, and now—more than 9,000 days later—she and other volunteers at the Flight 93 National Memorial maintain a tireless devotion, keeping the story of the 40 passengers and crew alive at the memorial near the crash site.
Volunteer firefighters from Indigenous Dayak and Banjar communities have spent weeks tackling peatland blazes across Kalimantan, fighting underground fires that have burned about 200,000 hectares since July. The fires, fueled by drought from a strong El Niño and decades of peat drainage for plantations, release massive amounts of carbon—coined as “carbon bombs”—into the atmosphere and choking haze across Southeast Asia. The health impacts are severe, with tens of thousands of respiratory illnesses reported and children especially affected. Some volunteers have died, and many work at the front lines to saturate peat with water and create containment, highlighting the complex legacy of land use, deforestation, and scapegoating in addressing the crisis.
Volunteer rescuers with Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue spent hours climbing to reach climber Rob Martin on a small ledge in California's Sierra Nevada and successfully rescued him.
Volunteer rescuers from Mono County saved an experienced climber who was stranded on a 6-inch ledge about 10,000 feet up in the Sierra Nevada after veering off-route; with a helicopter hoist ruled out by strong winds, rescuers hiked in at night and secured the climber to a rope system, bringing him to safety in the early hours.
Swindon is calling for around 50 more households to host Ukrainian families under the Homes for Ukraine scheme as demand remains high; since 2022 the town has helped more than 500 Ukrainians, hosts receive £350 per month after security checks and safeguarding, and the community is boosting ties through UkraineFest and a potential Rivne twinning partnership.
Tennessee held its first fall scrimmage, with early notes centering on quarterback performances Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre.
Amateur Venezuelan rescuers known as 'moles' dig through collapsed buildings in La Guaira after twin earthquakes, venturing into rubble with improvised tools to search for survivors or provide closure for relatives, amid concerns over slow official response as recoveries continue in Costa Brava, Perlamar and OPPE 26.
Twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, causing hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. With overwhelmed hospitals and slow official aid, everyday citizens and volunteers have taken charge of rescues and aid distribution, while international donors (including the US and EU) provide assistance. Critics accuse the state of delayed, mismanaged relief, raising concerns about infrastructure, healthcare capacity, and disease risk as thousands remain unaccounted for and relief efforts continue amid ongoing debris and dust.
In Beaver, Utah, neighbors rushed to support Mo Larsen and her family after their condo near Eagle Point Ski Resort was affected by the Cottonwood Fire, with volunteers doing repairs and painting while funds are being raised through local banks; Larsen praised the close-knit, Christlike generosity of the community, including her firefighter husband who helped evacuate others.
The CDC issued an internal call for agency staff to volunteer for its Ebola response, including conducting screenings at select U.S. airports, as the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo grows (over 1,000 suspected cases and hundreds of deaths). The agency also aims to open a quarantine facility in Kenya to monitor Americans exposed overseas, but a Kenyan court has temporarily blocked the plan. Volunteers would be paid their regular salary, deployment would require supervisory approval, and the effort follows the dissolution of the Global Rapid Response Team after the pandemic.
Seven tourists, including three children, were stranded on a cliff along Australia’s east coast as tides and 16-foot waves approached. A helicopter rescue was deemed too dangerous, so unpaid local volunteers executed a three-hour operation using ropes and an Arizona vortex to haul them to safety, preventing the ropes from being damaged by the sharp rock edges.
UT Knoxville announces Smokey XII, a two-year-old bluetick coonhound named Neyland, will debut as the next Smokey mascot at the 2026 Orange and White spring game; selected through the East Tennessee coonhound rescue community, he’s being fostered and trained by UT’s College of Veterinary Medicine with help from students and veterinarians to handle game-day environments, while Alpha Gamma Rho handlers support the effort and the Hudson family remains involved in long‑term care. Smokey XI has retired and Smokey X remains in palliative care.
Police say remains found in a Tasmanian rainforest are provisionally identified as 31-year-old Belgian backpacker Celine Cremer, who disappeared in 2023 after a hike near Philosopher's Falls in Waratah. A private search by volunteers uncovered bones, a mobile phone and clothing, prompting renewed police efforts. With the family's permission and expert reports, authorities say there is compelling evidence the remains belong to Cremer, though the coroner will officially confirm the identity.
In the wake of a fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis, thousands of Minnesotans have volunteered to observe and document federal agents, attend safety trainings, and assist fearful neighbors, despite risks like tear gas and detention; officials say the environment is dangerous for enforcement, while supporters credit observers with slowing operations and protecting communities.
About 1,200 volunteers are rehearsing for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in a tent beside San Siro, with long daily practice, a 1,400-costume wardrobe, and a Harmony-themed program featuring star performers like Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Cecilia Bartoli, Laura Pausini and Lang Lang; the event includes two cauldrons in Milan and Cortina and a Parade of Athletes beamed from Cortina to connect the venues.