WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (UPI) — Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Friday proposed creating a National Volunteer Reserve of people to respond to humanitarian needs from natural disasters to homelessness.
The volunteer reserve would function much like the Army Reserve, with enrollees receiving special training and being put on standby for when emergencies happen. Volunteer reserves would be on call in the wake of natural disasters to help with storm cleanup; to help collect and distribute bottled water if a community goes through a crisis like the one in Flint, Mich., where lead tainted the water supply; and to assist the homeless population in major cities.
Clinton said the focus of the volunteer corps would be on specific and measurable deployments, as determined by state and local leaders.
Similar to military reservists, Clinton said she would encourage employers to offer paid time off for volunteer reservists whose services are in need.
Clinton said the goal for registration for the Volunteer Reserves would be 5 million Americans, with a special goal of recruiting millennials from 18 to 30, a group Clinton said has shown a specific desire to become more active volunteering in their communities.
