Turning Volunteer Time Into Life-Saving Gear
Sometimes, the most powerful support for community resilience starts with one person’s time. Through NVIDIA’s employee volunteer hour matching program , a single supporter’s service hours were converted into a donation that allowed CERV to purchase Israeli bandages and other trauma supplies for Monterey CERT. Those supplies are now part of the equipment that volunteers rely on when they respond to emergencies in our community.
This is a story about how volunteer-supported giving becomes real, tangible readiness on the ground.
From Volunteer Hours to Medical Supplies
Many companies, including NVIDIA, offer employee giving programs that match financial donations or provide funding based on volunteer hours. In this case, a CERV supporter logged volunteer time through the company’s philanthropy platform. NVIDIA’s program then translated those hours into a monetary contribution directed to CERV.
CERV used those funds to purchase Israeli bandages and related trauma supplies requested by Monterey CERT. These bandages are now stocked in CERT medical kits, ready to be deployed when volunteers are activated to support local responders during incidents, exercises, and community events.
Why Israeli Bandages Matter for Community Response
Israeli bandages are designed for rapid, effective control of bleeding in the field. They combine a sterile dressing, pressure applicator, and closure system in a single compact package. For CERT volunteers who may be assisting first responders or providing basic first aid until help arrives, having access to this type of bandage can make a critical difference. Learn more about this type of bandage .
In training scenarios, these bandages are used to practice bleeding control and trauma response skills. In real-world emergencies, they become part of the practical toolkit that helps stabilize injured community members and buys time for professional medical care to arrive.
Monterey CERT and CERV: A Partnership Focused on Readiness
Monterey CERT is one of several CERT programs that CERV supports across the region. By helping equip local teams with the tools they need, CERV strengthens the ability of trained volunteers to:
- Support professional responders during emergencies and planned events.
- Provide basic first aid and bleeding control in the field.
- Assist with evacuations, shelter operations, and neighborhood-level response.
- Improve overall preparedness in the communities they serve.
The Israeli bandages funded through NVIDIA’s volunteer hour matching program are a concrete example of how small, targeted investments in equipment can enhance safety and readiness for an entire community.
Leveraging Employer Programs to Support Community Resilience
This story is not just about a single gift. It also highlights a broader opportunity for community-minded employees and volunteers: many employers offer matching gifts, volunteer hour grants, or other forms of employee-directed giving. When those benefits are directed to organizations like CERV, they translate into equipment, training, and support for local emergency preparedness programs.
If your employer provides a giving or volunteer match program, consider directing that support to community resilience initiatives in your area. For CERV, contributions like this help fund:
- Medical supplies and trauma kits for CERT teams.
- Training materials and outreach for disaster preparedness.
- Equipment that improves communication and coordination during emergencies.
To see more examples of how CERV has helped support CERT programs and community readiness across the region, visit our impact page: How We’ve Helped .
Small Actions, Lasting Impact
One person’s decision to log their volunteer hours through an employer program resulted in life-saving medical supplies for Monterey CERT. That is the power of connecting individual initiative with structured support. It is also a reminder that even small actions can have a lasting impact when they are directed toward preparedness and community resilience.
As CERV continues to work with CERT teams, schools, and community partners across Monterey County and beyond, stories like this help illustrate what is possible when volunteers, employers, and nonprofits work together.
If you would like to learn more about CERV’s work with CERT programs or explore ways your organization can support community resilience, please visit our donation and program pages: Donate to CERV and How We’ve Helped .
