Answering the call from Riverside County for residents to volunteer, Palm Springs man applies to help

Riverside County is calling on all willing residents to step up and volunteer to help fight COVID-19.

News Channel 3’s Caitlin Thropay spoke to a Palm Springs resident who like many right now is answering that call.

“I think people are in one of two categories they need help or can offer help,” Will Finkle of Palm Springs told News Channel 3.

Finkle is looking to offer help to those in need in our community.

“My parents are in Los Angeles, they’re 86 and I’m lucky enough to have two sisters that are bringing food and whatever else they need to them so I want to do the same for people out here that might not have those people in their lives,” he said.

At the end of March Governor Gavin Newsom made a call for extra help in the medical profession, now Riverside County is calling on “all willing residents” to step up and help with response efforts to the coronavirus.

Watch: 'The call to action.' County health leaders seek volunteers to help with coronavirus surge

“We need both medical and nonmedical volunteers," Dr. Michael Mesisca with Riverside University Health System said in a video. "We need retirees. We need students. We need people that are active and willing to put that extra time in to help support us,” he added.

After Finkle heard the call for help, he applied on the Riverside County volunteer workforce website.

“I really just want to do what I can," Finkle said. "I know there’s probably seniors or other people that are in need that can’t make it to the grocery store or pick up their prescriptions or whatever, maybe even walk their dogs…I have a car. I have a bicycle. I want to get outside and just be of service,” he said.

He also reached out to several other places looking to volunteer.

“I tried to check with Desert AIDS Project and aids assistance program and I don’t know why they haven’t gotten back to me, maybe they’re just overwhelmed with offers,” he said.

But for someone who’s so eager to help, he’s stuck waiting around for a response.

“I finally got some action by posting on the Facebook group, coronavirus assistance group and it’s local and I heard back from someone at the Mizell Senior Center so I’m on standby to do food delivery with them so I’m hoping to get to work on that today,” he said.

We reached out to Riverside University Health System and they tell us about 1,200 people have already applied to volunteer.

They aim to have people screened within 72 hours, however this timeframe is based on the priority needs of the county’s staffing.

Finkle just hopes he’s the right fit and that he can be of some help real soon.

“You know we are all in this together around the world and it takes me out of worrying about myself when I’m helping someone else,” he shared.

Riverside University Health System also tells us right now, the urgency is for medical staff willing to work in congregate care settings and at testing sites.

Want to sign up to help?

For more information about becoming a volunteer,

• Visit the Riverside County Public Health website: www.rivcoph.org/coronavirus.
• Click on the “Volunteer” button
• Or call 951-955-9227 for additional assistance.

Here's what you'll need to have ready:

• Your availability schedule
• Driver’s license
• Any professional licenses or certificate numbers (for the medical volunteers)