• Donate
• Urgent Needs
• Events
• Multimedia
• Site Map

• Home
• About Us
  • History
  • FAQ's
  • Staff
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Links
• Regions / Unit
  • Region I
  • Region II
  • Region III
  • Region IV
  • Region V (Canada)
• Projects
  • Marble Falls, TX
  • Cameron, LA
  • Diamond, LA
  • Greensburg, KS
  • New Orleans, LA
  • Newton, TX
  • Pass Christian, MS
  • Newton RV
• Programs
  • Pastors to Projects
  • Partnership Home Program
  • Youth Programs
  • Disaster Studies Programs
  • RV Program
• Get Involved
  • Short-Term Volunteers
  • Long-Term Volunteers
  • RV Program
  • Youth Volunteers
  • Volunteer Training
  • Safety Information
• News
  • Articles
  • Multimedia Galleries
  • Newsletter
• Resources
  • Login
• Contact Us
  • Congregation Contact Form
  • E-Mail / Newsletter Signup

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.

Click Here for a Interactive Map

This Interactive Map Feature requires a minimum Web browser of Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher, Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or higher, or similar compatible Web browsers. If the Interactive Map Feature link does not load, your Web Browser is probably not compatible. For optimal and proper viewing, it is suggested that you upgrade your Web Browser software before using this feature. If you are not sure of the version of your browser, select Help in the menu bar of your browser and choose About. We apologize for any inconvenience.

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

Project Director: Harold and Judy Miller

Phone:  (504) 309-9406
Fax:      (504) 309-9423
neworleans(at)mds.mennonite.net

Project Start Date: November 2006

Volunteer Status:   The weeks of Nov. 7, 24 and Dec. 1 are available for volunteers.

Volunteers to Date: 1160

Jobs Started: 147

Jobs Completed: 136

Project End Date: TBA

Project schedule

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

January 11 - Winter short term volunteers at projects

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

Volunteer Information