New Orleans, Louisiana
Disaster Description
New Orleans was damaged not so much by the wind and rain of Hurricane Katrina, but by the failure of the levees surrounding the city to keep out the waters of adjacent Lake Pontchartrain. Much of the city was flooded and many homes still stand empty more than four years later.
MDS Response
MDS is repairing and rebuilding homes in various areas of New Orleans, including Gentilly, Lower 9th Ward and Upper 9th Ward. MDS partners with organizations such as Catholic Charities, Crescent Alliance Recovery Effort (CARE) and Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery Partnership (GNODRP).
MDS completed renovations on the Hayne Blvd. building in early 2008 and all volunteers are housed there, in the northeast part of the city next to Lake Ponchartrain. Over 100 clean up and repair jobs have been completed as well as several new homes. Small groups continue the work over the summer and the project will open to larger groups in the fall and winter.
Photo Gallery
Oregon-volunteer-Mark-Diller-received-the-Best-Drywaller-gold-medallion-award-for-his-diligence-in-hanging-drywall-on-the-ceiling
Oregon volunteer, Mark Diller, received the Best Drywaller Gold Medallion award for his diligence in hanging drywall on the ceiling.
Volunteers-measure-and-cut-drywall-for-Pastor-Duplessis-home
Volunteers measure and cut drywall for Pastor Charles' house in New Orleans.
Mr-Doug-took-time-to-pose-with-our-volunteers-who-are-working-on-his-deck
Mr. Doug took time to pose with our volunteers who worked on his home.
Volunteer-playing-football-on-the-levee--by-Luke-Hershey
A volunteer on top of the levee across from the MDS building in New Orleans, with the city in the background.
Volunteer Dawn Roadhouse from Edmonton gave lessons in proper drywall taping and mudding techniques
MDS volunteer, Dawn Roadhouse, gave lessons in proper drywall taping and mudding techniques.
Assist-cook-Caroly-Martens-brings-freshly-made-doughnuts-for-an-afternoo-treat-to-vols-working-at-Pastor-Dwights
Assistant cook, Carolyn, brings out freshly made doughnuts - an afternoon treat for the volunteers.
Homeowner-Doug-Hill-receives-the-keys-to-his-newly-finished-home-from-PD-Gil-Friesen
Homeowner, Mr. Doug, receives the keys to his newly finished home from New Orleans Project Director Gil Friesen.
Our-talented-volunteer-painters-at-Pastor-Charles-house-in-the-Lower-Ninth-Ward
Our talented volunteer painters at Pastor Charles' home in New Orleans.
Rhoda-Friesen-presents-homeowner-Doug-Hill-with-quilted-wall-hanging-for-his-newly-finished-home
Rhoda presents homeowner, Mr. Doug, with a quilted wall hanging for his newly finished home.
Volunteer-David-cleans-switch-plate-at-Pastor-Charles
David cleaning switch plates at a home in New Orleans, LA.
Volunteer-tapers-and-mudders-with-Pastor-Dwight-in-his-house
Volunteer tapers and mudders with Pastor Dwight at his home in New Orleans, LA.
Getting-instructions-at-the-work-site--by-Jim-King
Getting instructions at the work site. -by Jim King
Going-over-the-plan-with-the-homeowner--by-Jim-King
Going over the plan with the homeowner. -photo by Jim King
Noah-mudding-the-ceiling--by-Jim-King
Long-termer, Noah, mudding the ceiling at a project in New Orleans. -photo by Jim King
Pastor-Duplesis-visits-with-volunteers---by-Jim-King
Pastor Charles visits with the volunteers. - photo by Jim King
Sporting-events-in-the-evening--by-Jim-King
Sporting events in the evening at the project. -photo by Jim King
The-Old-Order-Mennonite-ladies-from-ON-bless-us-with-a-program-of-sacred-songs-after-a-day-of-hard-work-sanding-drywall-at-Pastor-Websters-house
The Old Order Mennonite ladies from Ontario bless us with a program of sacred songs after a day of hard work sanding drywall at Pastor Webster's house.
Project Reports
Weekly Report for New Orleans
Sunday we welcomed the Wilmer Martin group traveling from Pennsylvania in a large bus. Wilmer and Lorraine have been bringing volunteers to MDS work sites for many years. Our remediation work continued with Pastor Charles’...[more]
Map/Directions
Project statistics
New Orleans
MDS
7520 Hayne Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70126
Project Director: Ken and Martha June Graber
Phone: (504) 309-9406
Fax: (504) 309-9423
neworleans(at)mds.mennonite.net
Project Start Date: November 2006 (Continuation of the Metarie Project)
Project is closed.
Volunteer Status:
Volunteers to Date: 3253
Jobs Started: 203
Jobs Completed: 203
Project schedule
Volunteer Information:
Please download and read the files listed below if you are planning and preparing for travel to work in New Orleans.
New Orleans Volunteer Information
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