No Volunteers, but Now Hiring

May 15, 2010

I’ve been calling and sending e-mails to people ever since the spill first happened. I’ve volunteered with several organizations back in Atlanta, I’ve driven to the Gulf Coast, and I’ve obtained all of the safety training available to the general public. I’m ready to help out, but have been unable to find any way to do so as a volunteer.

So today I went down to the WIN Job Center — The Mississippi Department of Employment Security in Waveland. BP has hired staffing firms to fill cleanup positions in the Gulf, and Multi-Staffing Inc. is going through the state unemployment office. Several fishermen and shrimpers stopped by while I was sitting there and were told to show up Monday morning at 8 a.m. for an interview.

I had already gotten in under the wire though, so I was able to meet with Sandra Stone, an Employment Interviewer there. Sandra and I talked about my desire to move back to the Coast and obtain employment helping clean up the oil spill. She looked into my background and told me that the job required taking a 40-hour HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) class, passing a physical exam, and it paid $12 per hour.

So here is my conundrum: I came to find out what was going on and help out. I did not come here to take a job away from some poor local who can’t feed his family because of this mess. It is one thing to volunteer down here, but completely another to compete for available jobs. I have always wanted to return to the Gulf Coast someday, but this was not at all how I had envisioned it.

The Gulf Between Us

The Gulf Between Us
Will this be a turning point?

The Man Who Saw It First
While the world was watching the volcano in Iceland, he was seeing a bigger disaster.

My Trip to the Gulf Coast
Trying to enlist as a volunteer.
1: Back to the Beach
2: The Wildlife Refuges
3: Last Try
4: The Scoop on Becoming a Volunteer

Rescuing the Hermit Crabs
Not just the ‘majestic’ animals.

BP's "Promise"
What they said ... (and when they said it).

The Nigerian Gulf
Out of sight, out of mind.

The Biggest Eco-Disaster?
Check out some others.

"A Gulf Lies Between Us"
The bigger gulf that we need to heal.

All Eyes on the Gulf
Hurricane Katrina volunteers reunite to help.

How You Can Help -- Part One
An opportunity to make a real difference.

How You Can Help -- Part Two
Thinking back to other crises.

The Last Word
Exchanging beauty for profit.

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