Volunteer Opportunities
The Task Force is made up of chief officers, company officers, rank and file members, honor guard, band members, chaplains, survivors, first responder families and other community members who have experience with the emergency services. Some of our volunteers come to us with experience in the areas of support service such as mental health, financial and legal services. Our members come from small, large, paid, volunteer, and combination departments.
The Task Force serves the fire service, law enforcement, and the emergency medical services.
Because our organization is 100% volunteer, volunteers are the life force of the Texas LODD Task Force. They touch every aspect of our operations and provide the highest-quality care to the families and agencies that we serve. This work enables us to magnify our impact and care for more individuals.
By joining the Task Force's team of dedicated volunteers, you’ll build strong relationships with other like-minded volunteers, the first responder community, and their families. Working together, we will build ensure that no first responder, first responder agency, or the family of a first responder feels alone when tragedy strikes.
Volunteer Opportunities
Response Team- Response team members include Response Commanders (chief level officers), Honor Guard Commanders, Logistics & Communication, Administrative Support, Chaplains (must be member of Texas Corps of Fire Chaplains), and Family Support Team. Response team members must be willing to respond for 3-5 days. Response team members that are associated with a first responder agency must have permission to deploy from a command level officer, preferably the chief.
Family Care Team- Assist the Family Care Coordinator with follow up care for the families of fallen and injured first responders. This individual will be contacting families via telephone and email and will be checking to see what needs the families may have following the funeral of their loved one. We typically provide follow up care for two years, and so a team of individuals will be assigned to ensure that the timeline is being met. Must be compassionate, a good listener, and have good communication skills. This individual must work well with a team and be able to provide any details of assistance need by the family to the Family Care Coordinator.
If willing, Family Care Team members can attend Family Networking events.
This position is good for individuals that love to work with people, are good with individuals experiencing crisis and grief, and have a heart toward providing comfort. If this sounds like a good fit for you, please fill out the application.
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Suicide Survivor Support Team- Volunteers that are a part of this team will be providing support services to families and loved ones of first responders that have died due to suicide. Support services can include but are not limited to: telephone and email/messaging communication, peer support, and guidance in providing resources. We prefer these volunteers to either be survivors of first responder suicide, individuals that currently work with or have had training and experience in working with survivors (clinicians, peer, social workers, chaplains, other suicide assistance programs). This individual must be compassionate and kind, possess excellent listening and communication skills, work well with a team, and can assist with resource management.
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Phoenix Project for Injured First Responders- Volunteers that are a part of this team will be providing support services to families and loved ones of first responders that have suffered a catastrophic injury in the line of duty. Support services can include but are not limited to: telephone and email/messaging communication, peer support, and guidance in providing resources. We prefer these volunteers to either be first responders that have suffered an injury and understands the needs of such individuals, individuals that currently work with or have had training and experience in working with injured first responders (clinicians, peer, family members, social workers, chaplains, other suicide assistance programs). This individual must be compassionate and kind, possess excellent listening and communication skills, work well with a team, and can assist with resource management.
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Resource Management- This position is perfect for someone who enjoys research, especially internet research. We are looking for individuals who will assist us in locating resources for the various programs, projects, and issues that we care for such as benefits, counselors, therapists, physicians, in-patient facilities, hospital facilities, and other organizations that provide services.
Individual must be able to work with Excel and has good organizational skills. If you have a couple of hours a week to spend surfing on the internet looking for resources, articles, and information, we would love to have you!
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Fundraising & Development- The Texas LODD Task Force could not do the work we do without donors, grants, and fundraising events. It takes a special person to help an organization find the funds and resources it needs in order to keep the programs running. We are looking for individuals that are go-getters, are excited about fundraising, can assist us with our donation campaigns and our fundraising events. We are looking for people that have fresh ideas, aren't afraid to ask, and aren't afraid of the word no. We are looking for people to help us develop fundraising events; develop a database of donors, and to find corporate sponsors.
Marketing & Public Relations- We are looking for individuals that would like to help us get the word out about our organization and events through social media, email, phone, messaging services, etc. We always have information for LODD responses, events, fundraisers, or general information that we need to be released to the public and/or to the first responder community. This position requires individuals to have excellent communication skills (especially written communication) and excellent proficiency in computer and internet skills. We prefer individuals who already have contacts and connections with the various first responder agencies (fire, EMS, police) but is not a must. We also prefer to have individuals that are either trained PIOs, marketing majors, or marketing major interns. If you do not have any training, please let us know your experience and why you would like to serve in this position.
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Logistics & Communications- This position is a LODD response team position. This individual will assist the Response Commander, the Honor Guard Commander, and the affected agency with logistics and communications in regard to funeral and memorial planning, implementation, and oversight. This individual will also assist with communications both internally with the Task Force and externally with the agency's PIO and command staff members.
This individual must possess strong organizational, communications, and logistics skills and is proficient in ICS (NIMS, Blue Card, or other ICS certification required). Must be willing to work well in a team setting and work with a command staff.
This individual will deploy with the Texas LODD Task Force and you may be staying on deployment location for 24 hours and up to 3-5 days. If you are an active-duty first responder, a letter from your chief officer stating that you are allowed to respond will be required. This letter ensures us that there will be no conflict between your agency and your ability to deploy on a response.
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Graphic Design- We are looking for people that like to create eye-catching graphics, social media ads, brochures, flyers, and more. If you have a creative edge and like to do design work, then this is the spot for you. Most of our design work will consist of creating visual media for our social media outlets and for our website. We have an online program that we are currently using that you will have access to, or you can use your own program.
Desired skills include internet, graphics and media design. Experience preferred. We will request samples of your work.
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Events- Individuals are needed to help us develop, coordinate, and implement special events for the Task Force. These events could be fundraising events, family network events, memorial events, etc. Some of our events are considered virtual events which means that take place completely online. We are looking for people who love planning, are good with details, organization, and management. Proficient computer and internet skills are necessary.
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Education- Instructors and individuals with experience in curriculum development are utilized to help us develop classes and presentations and to also instruct them. We are looking for individuals who have instructor certification and experience.
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Volunteer Care Team- Individuals in this position will be assisting the Volunteer Care Coordinator with ensuring that Task Force volunteers are staying connected with the Task Force and our programs, events, and meetings. This will include sending emails, texts, posting on our volunteer social media pages, and sometimes assisting with email newsletters. Some phone calls may be requested.
This position is great for an individual that likes people and has strong communication skills. We prefer an individual that has experience with written communication through emails, social media messaging, and texts.
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