Volunteers Power Oregon’s Public Health Emergency Response - 04/23/26
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April 23, 2026
Media contact: Erica Heartquist, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov
Volunteers power Oregon’s public health emergency response
OHA spotlights SERV-OR, AmeriCorps leaders during National Volunteer Appreciation Week
PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is celebrating National Volunteer Appreciation Week April 19-25 by recognizing the dedicated volunteers who protect and support communities across the state through the State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Oregon (SERV-OR) and the AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership Project.
From strengthening emergency preparedness systems to responding during disasters and public health crises, these volunteers bring expertise, compassion and a shared commitment to service that strengthens Oregon’s resilience.
“Volunteers are at the heart of public health emergency response in Oregon,” said OHA Public Health Director Naomi Adeline-Biggs. “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 public health volunteer workforce
Stuart Vaughters, now in his third year as an AmeriCorps VISTA member with OHA, has played a key role in strengthening SERV-OR’s infrastructure and volunteer recruitment efforts statewide. His work has helped expand partnerships, support Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units and improve volunteer coordination systems.
Lucy Rowing, an AmeriCorps VISTA leader, has guided multiple cohorts of VISTA members while strengthening professional development opportunities and supporting host organizations across Oregon. Her leadership has helped grow the next generation of public health professionals while advancing projects that address community needs and reduce poverty.
A lifetime of service
Libet Streiff, RN, a nurse practitioner and long-time volunteer, has dedicated more than three decades of service through organizations including the American Red Cross, SERV-OR and multiple 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.”
For Streiff, volunteering is both practical and deeply meaningful. “Why volunteer? Why not? 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. His decades of experience—from Hurricane Katrina deployments to wildfire response planning—inform his ongoing volunteer work.
“When I first moved to Hood River, I joined a volunteer fire department. Their motto was ‘neighbor helping neighbor,’” Mackwell said. “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.”
Mackwell emphasized that volunteers come from all backgrounds. “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.”
The next generation of volunteers
At just 22 years old, Alex Dolle represents the future of public health volunteerism. A soon-to-be Emory University graduate, Dolle has already contributed through SERV-OR, the Medical Reserve Corps and many 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.”
For Dolle, the impact is both personal and community wide. “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
SERV-OR volunteers support a wide range of efforts, from emergency preparedness exercises like Operation Pathfinder to real-world responses during wildfires, severe weather events and public health emergencies. These volunteers, alongside partners in the Medical Reserve Corps, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and other organizations, play a critical role in ensuring Oregon is ready when it matters most.
“Preparedness starts with people,” Adeline-Biggs added. “And time and again, our volunteers show up for their communities with skill, heart and dedication.”
OHA encourages Oregonians interested in making a difference to learn more about volunteer opportunities through SERV-OR and the AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership Project.
About SERV-OR
The State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Oregon (SERV-OR) is a statewide system that helps coordinate licensed health professionals and other volunteers to support public health and medical response efforts during emergencies.
About the AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership Project
OHA’s AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership Project aims to alleviate, prevent and reduce poverty by engaging new public health professionals in a year of full-time service in major public health organizations to create or expand public health systems capacity. The project aims to reduce poverty in our communities by building sustainable public health programs and systems that ensure access to care, community resiliency and improved health outcomes.
AmeriCorps VISTA members serve full-time, 40 hours per week in a capacity-building role in statewide organizations, local public health departments, Tribal governments or non-profits across Oregon.
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