Organization FAQs

• Do you have to be Jewish to be a volunteer with NECHAMA?

  No. NECHAMA welcomes volunteers regardless of faith or religious affiliation and we have a large number of non-Jewish volunteers. We also work along side other faith-based volunteer agencies.

• Where does NECHAMA get its funding?

  NECHAMA is primarily funded by grants and private donations, with the majority of our funding historically coming from individual donors. If you are interested in donating, please click here. Thank you for your support!

• How does NECHAMA decide to deploy?

  NECHAMA constantly monitors severe weather across the United States and we are closely connected to other disaster response organizations and government emergency managers who help us to evaluate deployment potential from afar. In some cases our assistance is requested by communities, others times we offer our services to a community. We respond when we know that we can provide the volunteers, equipment or knowledge that a community needs and when we know that our capacities are a good match.

• Who does NECHAMA help?

  NECHAMA strives to help those least able to help themselves, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or any factors other than need.

Deployment FAQs

• Do you need to have special skills to be a volunteer?

  No. NECHAMA provides all the necessary equipment, on-site training, and a skilled supervisor to ensure our work is both safe and efficient.

• Who will give me instructions?

  The Operations Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, or senior NECHAMA volunteer will provide you with all necessary information at the staging point and/or throughout the field work including on-site training as needed.

• Is there an age requirement to volunteer?

  NECHAMA will often accept young adults from B’nai Mitzvah age 13 through 17 with parent supervision. However, please check with the NECHAMA office prior to a deployment because the minimum age requirement may vary from one deployment to another due to local housing and other circumstances. There is no upper age limit as long as you are physically able to perform the work.

• How long does a deployment last?

  The duration of a deployment varies from 1 week to several months depending on the scale of the disaster and the local needs. Depending on the type of disaster we are responding to, we look for volunteers who can work 1 day, several days, a week or longer.

• How do I get to the deployment area?

  Volunteers need to provide their own transportation to the designated area. Once in the designated area NECHAMA typically provides transportation to and from the actual work sites in a community we are assisting.

• What is my cost to volunteer?

  There is no fee for volunteering with us, however, volunteers are responsible for most of their costs while on deployment. These costs typically include transportation to and from the deployment site and meals.

• What if I can’t lift a lot of weight?

  NECHAMA’s work is physical, but it isn’t all lifting heavy items. Volunteers need to be able to work, but we work together as a team. Can’t lift something? Grab another volunteer to help or move on to another task. The team leader will be able to help point you to things that you can accomplish.

• What do I need to bring on a deployment?

  • Personal toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothbrush etc.)
  • Towels
  • Shower shoes
  • Sheets and blanket or a sleeping bag
  • Pillow
  • Work clothes – Long pants (any clothing that can get dirty and muddy)
  • Work boots or sturdy shoes
  • Reading materials
  • Flashlight
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug spray
  • Sunglasses