FAQS

Can I bring any donations for the program? We have a wishlist where you can find our most needed items!

How many participants will there be?  Currently, we have a small team of staff. We have the capacity for up to 30 residential volunteers. 

Do I need any vaccinations? All volunteers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. You must bring along your vaccination card, as you may be asked to prove your vaccination status at any time. The term fully vaccinated refers to when an individual has received the single-shot vaccine or both doses of the two-shot vaccine, and two weeks have elapsed since the final dose. In addition, we strongly recommend you to consult with a medical professional before traveling. As every individual has their own health needs and levels of acceptable risk, we encourage you to work with your medical professional to decide on the best preventative measures for you. An up-to-date Tetanus vaccination is highly recommended.

Will there be time to rest? During the initial phase of the response, days will be long, and work will be hard. However, we will ensure all volunteers and staff have time for regular breaks and days for rest. Typically, we will take one day off each week. In addition, all volunteers staying longer than 30 days will be expected to take a 3-day break away from the program for rest and relaxation. Volunteers must cover any costs related to their break.  

Is COVID-19 testing mandatory? Yes. All Hands and Hearts require all volunteers to take a molecular-biological COVID-19 test (PCR or Antigen Test) and present a negative result. The test must be taken within 3 days of your arrival to the program. Testing before travel helps mitigate some of the risks of COVID-19 and helps us protect the community we serve, our volunteers, and our staff.

How do I confirm my spot on the program? To confirm your spot, please complete the volunteer service agreement, volunteer waiver, and travel form in your invitation email. 

How am I getting to program? Volunteers must arrange their transport to and from the program and are responsible for covering their travel expenses. 

What do I need to do in preparation for arrival? (temp checks, testing)

In the lead-up to your trip, check that you are symptom-free by regularly taking your temperature and monitoring for other symptoms. Please inform us if you have had COVID-19 symptoms at any point within 14 days of your planned arrival. You will also need to take a COVID-19 test(PCR or Antigen Test) within 72 hours before your arrival—you will be required to show the results, indicating that you have tested negative, at the base to ensure anyone arriving on our program is not infected with COVID-19.

What type of COVID-19 testing do I need to have? 

All Hands and Hearts follow the expert advice of authorities such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in regard to the correct use of different types of test. The FDA guidance can be found here. For pre-arrival testing, we require you to obtain an antigen or molecular test within 7 days of your arrival; we cannot accept antibody testing for this purpose. Where possible, we will prioritize using molecular-biological COVID-19 tests (PCR test or Antigen Test), in line with guidance. 

Can I extend my stay once I’m there? We encourage you to extend your stay with us. Initially, we will invite volunteers for a maximum of eight weeks; however, after some time on the program, you decide you would like to stay longer, providing availability, you are welcome to extend.