Description:

RESTORING HOMES
In Baton Rouge, the early stages of flood recovery continue as homes are gutted, treated, and restored following the record rainfall flooding from August 2016.

In Detroit, volunteers will serve with partner community organizations and churches already working to bring stability and growth to neighborhoods that are as much as 75 percent unoccupied at present.

In New Orleans, we continue the work of restoring family homes in New Orleans damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We’ve made tremendous progress so far and the vast majority of New Orleans is now restored, but the sheer scope of the initial devastation means that there are still several thousand homes to go. The families we are working with today have been on the long road to recovery since 2005 but are still determined to return home.

Impact: ENVIRONMENTAL A huge part of New Orleans’ long-term sustainability is tied to our local ecosystem, and there are many ways we can make a difference on this front. All Environmental efforts involve working in the beautiful outdoors. Past projects include:

• Planting cypress trees and marsh grass in the wetlands (Winter/Spring)
• Preparing marsh grass and trees for planting
• Animal rescue organizations
• Various projects at Chalmette Battlefield – site of the Battle of New Orleans
• Restoring the grounds of a plantation house on the National Registry
• Post-Katrina restoration of a New Orleans cemetery
• Removing non-indigenous plants and invasive species from bayous
• Urban farming
• General landscaping at churches, homes, and public parks affected by Hurricane Katrina

HUMAN CARE Human Care is a wonderful way to meet the people of New Orleans and learn about the culture and history of this unique city. Directly working with and serving others can be some of the most demanding, but also most rewarding work. A significant amount of our human care work involves youth and seniors. Past projects include:

• Activities with residents at nursing homes
• Programming at youth centers
• Staff assistance at child-care centers*
• Assisting in schools*
• Homeless shelters
• Hospice facilities
• Summer camps
• Vacation Bible Schools

GRASSROOTS Grassroots projects involve jobs that support the work of small missions and neighborhood projects, as well as behind-the-scenes work at nonprofits throughout the New Orleans area. Past projects include:

• Repairing and painting playground equipment
• Stuffing backpacks for the needy
• General maintenance tasks
• Facilities improvements
• Assisting at special events

CONSTRUCTION Camp Restore maintains a wide range of construction-related projects, with continued focus on helping families rebuild their homes damaged by Katrina’s floodwaters. In order to have the greatest impact with limited resources, (a combination of homeowner’s funds and donations raised by volunteer groups for materials), Camp Restore works to match volunteer skills as best as possible with the work at hand. Based on work volume, volunteer skills, and the types of projects currently underway, some of the groups have found it works well for them to serve with one of Camp Restore's local nonprofit partners who are also managing home restoration and building projects. Camp Restore is happy to share its recommendations and assist in connecting groups if its the best fit. Past projects include:

• Gutting
• Drywall hanging
• Drywall taping and floating
• Painting
• Cabinet installation
• Tiling
• Laminate flooring
• Installing fixtures

Project Availability:

Volunteer Responsibilities: From planting trees in the wetlands to rebuilding homes to visiting the elderly, we help volunteer groups engage a wide range of opportunities for service alongside New Orleans' local volunteer base.

Attire: Casual

F&B Provided for Volunteers: Yes

Option to Move Project to a Different Location: Yes