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Frequently Asked Questions |
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What is Faith Links?
Faith Links is a web-based grassroots effort by Volunteers of America to connect churches, other faith-based organizations, community groups, and compassionate individuals that wish to serve those in need during times of disasters and/or on a continual basis.
Volunteers of America’s Faith Links is a tool for connecting, communicating, and coordinating various group efforts. This provides a strengthened response during crises and builds stronger local communities with year-long ministry opportunities for volunteers.
Who can become a part of Faith Links?
Any faith-based or community organization, church, or compassionate individuals can sign up as members of Faith Links.
What are the requirements for membership?
The desire to serve those in need in your community and/or other communities needing help during times of disaster is essential. Faith Links is web-based, so access to the internet is important. A dedicated person will act as your contact for Faith Links.
What does it cost to be a member of Faith Links?
Nothing. This a free web-based community of congregations, faith-based and community organizations, and compassionate individuals linked by the efforts of Volunteers of America to help these groups better serve, both during times of crises and normal community ministries. No fees are charged, but donations are accepted to help offset basic costs associated with operating and maintaining the website and database. Click on the Donate tab for more information.
My organization/church is very small, what can we do?
No group is too small. Every faith-based and community organization is essential during times of crisis. It has been Volunteers of America’s experience that no group is too large or small. Anyone can bring important resources during crises to their individual communities all year-long.
I’m just one individual, can I join?
Yes.
What can being a member of Faith Links do for our church or organization?
Faith Links can help your group connect to other organizations or groups that are successfully making a difference through their ministries and services in their communities. These connections can be used to share information and potential mentoring and training opportunities to newly forming community ministries. Faith Links can help connect various small groups in an individual community or town share resources such as volunteers, supplies, building space, and financial resources to help avoid duplication of services, thus serving the communities needs more efficiently. For example, a big church has space to open a large food pantry. Three small churches currently have volunteers but not the space or resources to individually address the need. If all four work cooperatively by sharing, space, volunteers, and supplies, all are more successfully assisting families in need instead of struggling separately. Faith Links will provide connections for mentoring and training both on-site and web-based.
What makes Faith Links different from other umbrella agencies?
Volunteers of America’s Faith Links provides ministry opportunities all year long, not just during times of disaster, by offering both a disaster response category and a community building category to this web-based connection.
It also offers a web-based resource for congregations or organizations wishing to start up or work with others in their local community servicing families in need. (for example, food pantries, clothing closets, tutoring programs, homeless shelters etc.) Faith Links can help build stronger communities by these connections.
Small, independent congregations can use Faith Links to work together to serve.
Being linked is reciprocal. For example, a hurricane hits the coast and your group wants to help … Faith Links will show what resources are needed, where to send them, and how members can help. But, if your community suffers a flood or devastating tornado, groups from along the coast can respond in kind with resources. However, Faith Links is more than disaster response. It allows groups from all over to share what they are doing successfully in their local community to meet human needs. Also, Faith Links allows churches, faith-based and community organizations, and compassionate individuals to ask for help in areas where they need improvement or have questions about building stronger communities.
After enrolling, can I update my organization’s information?
Yes, updates can be submitted to Volunteers of America Southeast’s offices and we will update them for you on a monthly basis. During a disaster, needs are updated as quickly as possible.
Once enrolled, who can view my organization’s information?
Anyone can view your public information, but only selected people at Volunteers of America’s main office can view private information or change what is presented on the Faith Links website. |
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Faith Links is a program of Volunteers of America Southeast, Inc. |
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Volunteers of America Southeast Faith Links 1142 Montlimar Drive Mobile, AL 36609
251-338-1562
In times of crisis or disaster, please call:
251-300-3500 |