BCAT News

Burlington is an exemplary town for a lot of reasons – its boisterous economic hub in the Mall Road area, its active civic life, and its rollicking recreational opportunities are only some of them. But one other way that Burlington is unique is its local Volunteer Reserve Corps: Only one other town in Massachusetts, Brookline, has one.

The BVRC was originally a part of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), a Massachusetts organization that began after the events of September 11, 2001.

Michael Greene, Associate Director of the Burlington Board of Health said medical professionals were eager to volunteer in support of emergency activities but found there was no organized way to channel their efforts. The MRC was established to recruit, train and activate medical and non-medical volunteers to respond to community health needs during disasters and public health emergencies.

Most MRCs serve a dozen or more towns,, but the BVRC serves Burlington exclusively. “Originally it was housed in the Region 4A MRC starting in 2006,” said Greene “but through Congressional approval became a standalone MRC.”

The BVRC officially began in 2009.

“Burlington and Brookline are the only two Massachusetts MRCs that serve single towns.” Greene said., “This makes the BVRC uniquely positioned to assist the Board of Health (BOH) due to the close connections we have established. Being the housing organization for the BVRC, Burlington gains the full benefits of the volunteers and isn’t stretched thin by requests for service from other towns.

“Another advantage is the close connection the BOH staff has with volunteers,” Greene continued.“From the onboarding process, through training, meetings, and deployments, staff and volunteers get to know each other.”

The BVRC helps the BOH expand their efforts on public health in Burlington. Run by a five-member Executive Committee, they operate in four separate subcommittees: Training; Recruitment & Retention; Public Education and Outreach; and Special Events. Members of the BVRC can often be seen assisting at BOH events, including but not limited to blood pressure screenings at the Council on Aging, town-wide flu clinics, household hazardous waste collection days, and the Burlington Community Health Fair.

Mary O’Connor, a longtime member of the BVRC, recalls attending the first ever meeting based on an ad she saw in the newspaper, “I decided to register to be able to give back to the community I live in.”

“I enjoy being a part of the BVRC because I get to do a lot of training. I’ve also enjoyed the quarterly meetings where there is usually a presentation. My favorite events are the vaccine clinics where I am a scribe and help to keep the Burlington citizens healthy. I have met some wonderful people over the many years of being a member.”

The BVRC is open to anyone 18 or older, with or without medical experience. They provide free training, often with Continuing Education Unit credits. Greene encourages those interested to speak to a BOH staff member or volunteer, or attend an event to see what they do.

“It might seem intimidating, but it is not. It is a great way to meet and network with other folks who want to help the community. There is no obligation to volunteer.”

Greene also shared his own experience working with BVRC when he came to Burlington, “The BVRC is an inclusive, diverse group who were very welcoming to me when I first came to town. It is both fun and rewarding to volunteer with the BVRC.”