NEW YORK - One Day’s Pay, the national nonprofit organization working to establish September 11 as an annually recognized National Day of Voluntary Service, announced today that it has created a centralized “one-stop” online registration page, located at http://www.onedayspay.org, for people interested in volunteering to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

“Thousands of people who may not be able to give financially are ready to donate their time and efforts, but some are still not sure what’s needed, where to go for more information, or who to contact,” said David Paine, president and co-founder of One Day’s Pay. “We’ve created a single resource where people can quickly and easily register their desire to volunteer in the Katrina relief effort. The names and information of those who sign up on our website will then be forwarded to organizations seeking volunteer assistance over the next few weeks, which may include local Citizen Corps Councils, members of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD), and the American Red Cross.“

“At times of national distress, the American public unites and comes forward in a generous outpouring of support for those who have been affected,” said Ande Miller, executive director of National VOAD. “This database will help our member organizations identify those who are willing to help and connect them to structured, organized volunteer opportunities where the need is greatest.”

Since 2002, One Day’s Pay has been a leader in working to transform 9/11 into a National Day of Voluntary Service. Over the past two years, more than two million people have visited its website and registered their intentions to observe 9/11 by engaging in charity and service. One Day’s Pay is an Affiliate of Citizen Corps, the Department of Homeland Security’s grass roots effort to promote all-hazards citizen preparedness and participation.

“People continually ask how best to observe 9/11,” Paine said. “As we watch the tragedy of Katrina continue to unfold, this year the answer should be clear to everyone – we need to reach out and help those most in need, especially those directly affected by this tragedy, just as we did as a nation in response to 9/11. At the same time, we also need to encourage people to help their own communities to better prepare for future potential hazards and threats.”

Visitors to the One Day’s Pay website who wish to help as Katrina relief, relocation and recovery volunteers are asked to provide important information and answer specific questions typically used by FEMA and the American Red Cross to identify volunteers’ skills and interests. The One Day’s Pay site also provides links that allow people to make cash donations directly to the American Red Cross, the Bush - Clinton Katrina Fund, and other respected organizations seeking funding help for the relief efforts.

People who wish to volunteer may also contact their local Red Cross chapter, or reach out directly to state and local agencies in the affected areas.

Building A Volunteer Base For Future Outreach

“Right now, most people who wish to help as volunteers are being correctly advised not to travel to these hard hit communities unless they are part of a formal volunteer initiative,” said Paine. “However, once the immediate emergencies are addressed, many national and local organizations and agencies will be seeking committed individuals who can help in the recovery efforts, not just in the New Orleans and other Gulf communities hardest hit by this disaster, but also other communities being called upon to house and care for the many citizens who have been forced to leave their homes. Our intention is to provide a quick, easy and ready resource for those interested in volunteering, and get these potential volunteers routed to interested agencies and organizations as fast as possible based on their needs.”

“We have had an important and longstanding relationship with the American Red Cross and Citizen Corps since soon after 9/11, encouraging people to become involved in disaster preparedness and relief,” Paine said. “In the wake of this tragedy, it is appropriate for us to step up this commitment and apply added resources to help answer questions and channel volunteer interest to the appropriate agencies and organizations.”

Katrina Rekindles Memories of National Unity Around 9/11

“Our mission since 2002 has been to encourage Americans to wake up every September 11 with a plan to do at least one good deed to help someone else in need,” said Jay S. Winuk, vice president of One Day’s Pay. Jay lost his brother Glenn Winuk, a veteran volunteer firefighter and EMT and rescuer on 9/11 who died in the collapse of the World Trade Center’s South Tower. “The Katrina disaster reminds us once again how important it is for us all to quickly and efficiently come together to support those most in need of help. As 9/11 family members, we hope that people around the nation will mark 9/11 this year by giving of themselves in any way they can to help the victims of Katrina, as well as by supporting needy charities in their own communities.”

Winuk noted that while there is an urgent and immediate need to help the victims of Katrina, Americans should also not forget to help charities in their local communities.
“We well remember the economic impact that 9/11 had on the ability of local charities unrelated to 9/11 to raise needed money for operations. Many of those organizations have scarce resources to begin with, and depend heavily on continued contributions from area businesses and citizens. We’re hopeful that what people give to Katrina relief doesn’t significantly reduce what they will give to other charities that serve vital functions in their local communities.”

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