All articles tagged with #volunteers
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.
ICE operations led to temporary closures at Twin Cities restaurants, including El Rodeo in Maple Grove, as workers feared reporting to work. In response, community volunteers began signing up to fill shifts (about 75 in 90 minutes) and a GoFundMe raised roughly $6,000 to support employees with groceries and pay, with the aim of reopening soon.
As Wikipedia marks its 25th anniversary, it faces political attacks, relentless AI scraping that strains servers, and a shrinking pool of volunteers, threatening the site’s founding ideals of neutral, noncommercial, human-edited knowledge. External pressures include proposed UK age-gating, Saudi editor imprisonments, and China blocks, while debates about AI’s impact on human knowledge deepen. Wikimedia’s new CEO Bernadette Meehan aims to navigate these challenges, but renewal of editor engagement and sustainable funding remain critical to keeping Wikipedia a trusted knowledge base used by AI and search engines.
Pope Leo XIV expressed gratitude to the institutions and volunteers who contributed to the Jubilee Year of Hope in Rome, highlighting their often unseen efforts that enabled millions of pilgrims to experience hope and spiritual renewal. He emphasized the importance of hope for young people and encouraged ongoing faith and role models, concluding with a blessing and a Jubilee crucifix as a symbol of gratitude.
Debian's Data Protection Team has become inactive as all volunteers have stepped down, leaving the project without dedicated personnel to handle GDPR and privacy issues. The Debian Project Leader has called for new volunteers, emphasizing the importance of experience and trust, to help re-establish the team and address data protection concerns.
KDE's 'This Week In Plasma' series, a popular update on Plasma desktop developments, will become less frequent or possibly go on hiatus due to a lack of volunteer contributors, as its creator Nate Graham has less time to dedicate to it because of increased work and family commitments.
A six-month ranger position is available on the uninhabited Handa Island in Scotland, offering the chance to monitor seabirds and manage visitors, with requirements including wildlife knowledge and strong people skills, and accommodations provided in a remote setting.