OHA spotlights SERV-OR, AmeriCorps leaders during National Volunteer Appreciation Week
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Health Authority is recognizing the vital role of volunteers in safeguarding communities across the state as part of National Volunteer Appreciation Week, observed April 19–25.
Through programs like the State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Oregon and the AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership Project, volunteers contribute to emergency preparedness, disaster response and ongoing public health efforts, officials said.
“Volunteers are at the heart of public health emergency response in Oregon,” said Naomi Adeline-Biggs, public health director at OHA. “Whether planning behind the scenes or serving on the front lines, they embody the spirit of community and readiness that keeps the people of Oregon safe.”
Building Oregon’s volunteer workforce
OHA highlighted several individuals whose work has strengthened the state’s public health response network.
Stuart Vaughters, now in his third year as an AmeriCorps VISTA member with OHA, has helped expand SERV-OR’s infrastructure, improve volunteer coordination and strengthen partnerships with Medical Reserve Corps units statewide.
Meanwhile, Lucy Rowing has led multiple VISTA cohorts, supporting professional development and assisting host organizations in addressing community needs and poverty-related challenges. Officials said her leadership has helped cultivate the next generation of public health professionals.
A lifetime of service
For Libet Streiff, volunteering has been a lifelong commitment. The nurse practitioner has spent more than 30 years serving with organizations such as the American Red Cross, SERV-OR and various Medical Reserve Corps units.
“I grew up in a family where we were expected to volunteer,” Streiff said. “We were fortunate, and it was our obligation in a positive way to give back.”
Streiff described volunteering as both practical and meaningful. “I have skills and education that are useful and I’m glad that I can,” she said. “It’s a good way to show that we’re grateful for what we have and to see if we can make the world a tiny bit better.”
Experience meets purpose
Peter Mackwell, a retired firefighter paramedic and former OHA employee, continues to serve through SERV-OR and the Oregon Disaster Medical Team.
Drawing on decades of experience—including deployments during Hurricane Katrina—Mackwell said volunteer service is rooted in community.
“If I have to sum it all up, it’s about a sense of community and being there to help people on their very worst day,” he said.
He added that volunteers bring diverse skills to emergency response efforts. “Everybody comes to the table with a different set of specialties. It’s about recognizing what you can bring and finding the right way to help people,” Mackwell said.
The next generation
At 22, Alex Dolle represents a new generation of public health volunteers. A soon-to-be graduate of Emory University, Dolle has already contributed through SERV-OR, the Medical Reserve Corps and multiple emergency response efforts.
“I’m a very hands-on person,” Dolle said. “Volunteering with SERV-OR gives me direct opportunities to apply my skills in ways that are tangible and meaningful.”
Dolle emphasized the broader impact of volunteerism. “Everybody has a skill set and if they give that to others, it makes the world a much better place,” he said. “It’s really about the impact that I want to make.”
A statewide effort
Officials said SERV-OR volunteers support a wide range of activities, from preparedness exercises like Operation Pathfinder to real-world responses during wildfires, severe weather and public health emergencies.
They work alongside partners such as the Medical Reserve Corps and Community Emergency Response Team programs to ensure communities are prepared when disasters strike.
“Preparedness starts with people,” Adeline-Biggs said. “And time and again, our volunteers show up for their communities with skill, heart and dedication.”
OHA encourages residents interested in volunteering to explore opportunities through SERV-OR and the AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership Project.
About SERV-OR
The State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Oregon is a statewide system that coordinates licensed health professionals and other volunteers to support public health and medical response efforts during emergencies.
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