All Hands and Hearts - Disaster Relief Nonprofit

Name: All Hands and Hearts - Disaster Relief Nonprofit
Brand: All Hands and Hearts
SKU: 300030
Rating: 4.96 (75 reviews)

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4.96 Rating

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Location

Multiple Locations +4

Philippines
Mexico
United States of America
Nepal

Project Types

Community Development Building Projects Social Services Disaster Relief Refugee Relief

Need-based funding

Health & Safety

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Program Details

Language

English

Age Min.

Timeframe

Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round

Groups

Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)

Travel Type

Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

What's Included

Accommodation Meals Some Meals

What's Not Included

Airfare SIM cards Transportation Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: Jan 22, 2025

Last Reviewed: Dec 30, 2024

Wish List

25 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

All Hands and Hearts provides community-inspired, volunteer-powered disaster relief.

With the frequency and intensity of disasters on the rise around the globe, there's an urgent need for a more thoughtful approach to how we respond and help impacted communities recover. When a disaster strikes, All Hands and Hearts arrives early and stays late to address vulnerable communities' immediate and long-term needs. We work alongside the local leaders and deploy our unique volunteer model to enable direct impact — helping families and communities recover by building safe, resilient schools, homes and other community infrastructure.

Thanks to our community of passionate volunteers, donors and partners, we've provided 20 years of disaster relief support to over 1.4 million people.

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Video and Photos

Volunteers wearing purple shirts in Nepal

Program Highlights

Free accommodation
Three meals a day for all volunteers days
No program fee to volunteer
No experience required
Make new global connections

Popular Programs

Hawaii Wildfire Relief

As a volunteer, you'll be making a meaningful impact on Maui, responding to wildfires that started on August 8. Our program, situated north of Lahaina, aims to support a community devastated by the fires.

Our team is focusing our efforts at the Napili Noho Community Hub on Maui, which supports families and aims to provide long-term support for communities recovering from the wildfires over the next two years.

AHAH volunteers in purple shirts doing construction work on Hurricane Ian impacted home

Florida Hurricane Relief

Our staff and volunteers continue to respond to recovery needs in Fort Myers, Florida following damage from Hurricane Ian. We are currently repairing homes so that homeowners can feel safe and secure at their residences.

Hurricanes hit quickly, but recovery is slow. Florida was hit on September 28, 2022, by Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm. Significant damage occurred in coastal towns and cities, while inland areas experienced life-threatening floods.

Ukraine Crisis Relief

All Hands and Hearts has been addressing the unique needs of families and individuals impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since March 2022. With a focus on refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), we are committed to supporting these communities.

Filipino student swinging on new playground

Philippines Typhoon Relief

In May 2024, we will launch a new phase of our typhoon relief program in Southern Leyte, where we will mobilize volunteers and work alongside local community members to help build a school impacted by Typhoon Rai.

Program Reviews

4.96 Rating

based on 75 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Volunteer

5 rating 96%
4 rating 4%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Impact 4.95
Support 4.9
Fun 4.9
Value 4.95
Safety 4.85

Good for Solo Travelers, Students, Couples

Showing 73 - 75 of 75 reviews

This project was one of the best times of 2012 for me. It's daunting to travel to another country, especially when you're taking the trip solo. The first impression I had of the Project was the people of the Philippines. While I was on my connecting flight from Manila to CDO I was seated next to the most wonderful woman who had move from CDO to the states who then offered her help in getting me to the Project House so that I didn't have to take a taxi. (The taxi drivers will try and give you a run for your money...you can fall for it a couple times, but eventually you'll get the hang of it) Once we landed she helped me get my bags and then loaded me into one of 2 vans of family members that had come to great her. Her 24 family members and then made our way down into the valley, and after a few wrong turns and slight panic that maybe I had the wrong address, we found the house. I hoped out of the van and her ENTIRE family got out with me took a picture with me and gave me a send off fit for a queen. If that doesn't say something about the kindness and generosity of the people then I don't know what does!
The house was great, I was met by Jess and Chris who were the project leads at the time and after some simple paperwork for my emergency contact and what not I was on my way. The house is simple, but it gives you everything you need. The wifi is great, I never had an issue with it unless there was an occasional black out from a thunderstorm.
The other Volunteers really made the experience for me. I met some of the best people ever during my time there, a good handful of whom I was able to see this past New Years Eve in New York City while they were all working on Hurricane Sandy Relief.
The work is self explanatory, you know what your getting yourself into and after the first few days of fatigue and jet lag you find yourself digging holes and laying foundations like a pro.
In terms of your surroundings you're in a great area, there is access to a local mall that has EVERYTHING you could possibly need.
This particular project really is the best of both worlds. The community it what really makes it worth it. The work is work, but the people make getting up everyday at the crack of dawn manageable.
And on the bright side, every couple weeks (depending on the number of volunteers in the house) you get a morning to sleep in a bit when you're assigned house cleaning, believe it or not I've never been so excited to clean just for that extra hour of sleep.
Just Do It!

What would you improve about this program?

I got there relatively early on in the project, about 4 months after it started so the efficiency of planning was still being figured out...but from what I've seen since I left they look like they've got it on lock now!

I wil forever be dedicated to the All Hands Organization. After Superstorm Sandy hit and saw all the destruction that happened my heart broke. I wanted to go out there and help. I wanted to get my hands dirty and help clean up. That's when I came across the All Hands Organization. The All Hands Organization is a grassroots organization dedicated to actually be "all hands" in and helping. The staff is so professional,caring and knowledgeable. They share the same passion as me with helping. When you go out to a job site you get assigned a team leader who is totally knowledgeable on what to do. I felt so comfortable the first time I went. Words can't describe the feeling I had once the day was over knowing that I just helped a family get one step closer to getting their life back in their home. On April 20th I will be going back to help for the third time bringing a small group of people with me. There's still so much to be done. I guarantee if you go once you'll want to keep coming back to help. It's such a rewarding experience.

What would you improve about this program?

I wouldn't change a thing! :)

I have volunteered with All Hands in many different countries throughout the years and I honestly feel my time spent volunteering was effective, fun and enriched my life in uncountable ways. I can only hope that I also had that affect on others as well.

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I've worked with All Hands and Hearts twice now. The first time I volunteered in St. Thomas, they were offering free flights for people able to stay for 2+ weeks. I have generous vacation time, so I decided to go for it!

I had such an amazing experience in the St. Thomas program that I decided to sign up for their Puerto Rico program and had another fantastic experience. I can't wait to volunteer with them again and I hope to spend longer than a week.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

For the St. Thomas trip in 2019, they booked my airfare and had accommodations set up on their base, where they provided meals, transportation to work sites, and sleeping quarters. My responsibility was to get from the airport to and from their base and cover meals on the weekends.

This most recent trip to Puerto Rico, I was responsible for my airfare, transportation to and from the base, and weekend meals. They took care of the rest.

Neither of these trips required a Visa as they're both US territories.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Once All Hands and Hearts has confirmed your volunteer dates, they send you a packet of information with everything you need to know: what to pack, transportation options, the type of work you'll be doing, etc. It's incredibly informative and in line with what to expect when you arrive on base.

After the St. Thomas trip, I orchestrated a group trip to volunteer with All Hands and Hearts through a social volunteer organization I work with called One Brick. We traveled with a group of ten and everyone told me they had a great experience and would volunteer with All Hands and Hearts again - even without the group.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

For the two programs I have worked on, workdays are Monday to Friday from 8 am-4 pm. All Hands and Hearts operate multiple worksites at once all in various stages of completion.

In St. Thomas, I did a lot of interior and exterior painting and installing doorknobs. For Puerto Rico, we did mold remediation and roofing work. The site supervisors and team leaders are knowledgable and do not make you do any work you're uncomfortable with doing.

After work, there is a base-wide debrief meeting at 5 pm where we go over successes, work for the next day, program updates, fundraising updates, etc. Dinner is served between 5:30-6 pm and then people mostly hang out on base. Both locations had a curfew.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I was pretty nervous about sharing a room with 10-20 people because we're also spending the day together at the worksite, but there are so many people on base to hang out with and if you need your space and are feeling burnt out, people give you plenty of space.

I know some people are concerned that they do not know enough about construction or home repair to help. Since All Hands and Hearts has different types of projects going on, there is something for everyone. Don't let that stop you!

Heather Curtis

2013 Alum

Jon Griswold

2016 Alum

Randy-Nashleanas

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Did you volunteer abroad? If so, where and what inspired you to go?

I volunteered with All Hands for 16 months in Indonesia and Haiti before becoming staff. Like all of our volunteers, I was driven to help those who need support following the impact of a natural disaster

As with a large number of our alumni I signed up for just a couple of weeks but the work was so meaningful, my fellow volunteers so inspirational and the communities so welcoming I found I didn't want to leave. In the last five years I have now been to 17 projects, and a part of many more from my desk at home, and seeing communities being supported on the road to recovery is as satisfying as it was my first week on the ground as a volunteer.

What does the future hold for All Hands Volunteers - any exciting new programs to share?

As a disaster response organization it is impossible for us to predict where and when our next project will be. We have cleaned up after floods, rebuilt after typhoons, cleared debris after tornados and shoveled snow after the historical snowstorms that hit the Boston area this year.

If local mechanisms, agencies and individuals are overwhelmed by the scale of the damage All Hands will look at ways that volunteers can plug in and fill the gaps, whether this mean winterizing homes in Colorado or building boats in Samar. We're always looking for unmet needs in the communities we serve and how we can use the motivation and dedication of our volunteers to address them.

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Do your volunteers require certain qualifications or go through a training process?

All Hands is committed to enabling motivated people to assist communities affected by natural disasters. We try to remove as many barriers to participation as possible so that our volunteer population is as diverse and innovative as possible.

We do not require our volunteers to have any special skills or previous experience, and there is no minimum or maximum amount of time you must sign up for. If you have the time and ability to travel to the location of our of our projects, and we have space, you're in! Our Team Leaders will share their expertise with you, making sure you have all the information and techniques you need to have a positive and productive time in the field.

What is the level of cultural immersion your volunteers receive?

All of our projects involve lots of interaction with the local community. We welcome local residents as volunteers, and many projects hire a large local workforce to help us with highly skilled tasks such as translation and construction.

You'll also work side by side with the homeowners and beneficiaries you're assisting, clearing basements of debris, building houses, cutting down and removing fallen trees and so on. Outside of the workday, you are free to explore the area as much as you'd like, eating in mom and pop restaurants, riding local transport and getting roped into the local sport of choice - your skill level is irrelevant!

About All Hands and Hearts

All Hands and Hearts provides community-inspired, volunteer-powered disaster relief. With both the frequency and intensity of disasters on the rise around the globe, there’s an urgent need for a more thoughtful approach to the way we respond and help impacted communities recover. When a disaster strikes, All Hands and Heart arrive early and stay...