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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 almost three 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).

After almost 8 months of work, MDS completed renovations on the Hayne Blvd. building that will again be used to house volunteers. It is located in the northeast part of the city next to Lake Pontchartrain.

Hayne-Blvd

MDS building in New Orleans.

Ms-Judy s-house-in-New-Orle

Ms. Judy's house in New Orleans.

Painting-at-Odette s-House

Volunteers painting at Ms. Odette's house.

Measure-twice -cut-once

Measure twice, cut once.

Passing-over-the-reigns

Passing the reigns from one Project Director to the next.

Youth-Volunteer-takes-a-bre

Youth volunteer in New Orleans.

Consulting-on-technique

Consulting on technique.

Cutting-the-studs

Framing in New Orleans.

Singing-the-report

Singing the daily report.

The-crew-at-Rosalie-and-Nol

The painting crew at Rosalie and Nolan's house.

Painting-at-Rosalie s

The painting is almost finished at Rosalie's.

Framing-in-New-Orleans-2

Youth volunteer framing in New Orleans.

Project-Director-and-Client

Project director discusses progress with the client.

River-Easters-working-at-MD

River Easters working at the MDS project.

Youth-in-New-Orleans

Youth volunteer mudding in New Orleans.

Framing-in-New-Orleans-2008

Framing in New Orleans.

Bell-House-with-Jean-Hunt

Jean Hunt with Ms. B at her house dedication.

New Orleans
MDS
7520 Hayne Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70126

Project Director:  Leonard Penner and Eddie Neufeld
Phone:  (504) 309-9406
Fax:      (504) 309-9423
neworleans(at)mds.mennonite.net

Project Start Date: November 2006

Volunteer Status:  This site is full until August, 2008.

Volunteers to Date: 1160

Jobs Started: 147

Jobs Completed: 136

Project End Date: TBA

Project schedule

June 8 -Summer Youth Project begins

August 9 - Summer Youth Project ends

October 13-December 13: Fall short term volunteers are on projects

January 11 - Winter short term volunteers at projects

Volunteer Information:
Please read this file if you are planning and preparing for travel to work at New Orleans.

New Orleans Volunteer Information

Volunteer preparation tips In preparation for your trip to an MDS project, download the file below.

Volunteer Information