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).
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.
Lorena presents a prayer shawl to the new homeowner at her house dedication.
Martha June presents a quilted wall hanging to new homeowner Lily and daughter Diedre at their home dedication in New Orleans.
Volunteers from 10 CWS partner groups work together. MDS volunteers Dave Wiebe, Wayne Stuckey and Art Zacharias are in this group.-Matt Hackworth
The weather remained extremely hot and humid when the team from Harvest Community Church (Pennsylvania) arrived. Many in the team had served with MDS before, and knowing the routine, were anxious to get to work. The week was...
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: Jim and Marie Byler
Phone: (504) 309-9406
Fax: (504) 309-9423
neworleans(at)mds.mennonite.net
Project Start Date: November 2006
Volunteer Status: Project is open
Volunteers to Date: 1867
Jobs Started: 158
Jobs Completed: 150
Project End Date: TBA
Project schedule
October - Project will re-open
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
|
