Katrina Rebuilding Ministry

Operation Helping Hands is a volunteer program of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans to assist the community in reoccupying their homes.
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Project Summary

In the devastating wake of Hurricane Katrina, Operation Helping Hands, a program under Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New Orleans, has provided a desperately needed service to the people of Greater New Orleans by amassing over 20,000 volunteers willing to lend a hand.

Operation Helping Hands volunteers have gutted nearly 2000 homes and apartments for elderly citizens. We are rebuilding and painting homes of those most in need. The outcome of this effort will add to the future health of the city and confirm the commitment of the Catholic Church to serving those in need.

Volunteers come from outside the Archdiocese but also involve members of the local and surrounding communities. College students and church groups of all ages make up the largest groups.

What We Do

The Good Shepherd team commits to two trips each year for five working days. We paint, install drywall and siding, do light carpentry and cleanup. Though much more needs to be done, we see increased signs of the rebuilding successes throughout every region of the city. It is gratifying to see that homes we have worked on during previous trips are now occupied or very close to completion.

Local residents throughout New Orleans express their gratitude to us as volunteers at every opportunity.

What types of work do we do?

  • Cleaning and preparing houses or apartments for rebuilding
  • Installing insulation
  • Hanging and finishing drywall
  • Installing interior trim and flooring
  • Painting home interiors
  • Yard clean-up and exterior work including exterior painting
  • Installing exterior siding
  • Other work related to restoring homes and apartments

What kind of skills are required?

None. We accept all volunteers of all ages who are able and willing to do physical labor. Our volunteers are split about evenly between men and women. While we find that at least some skilled volunteers are needed, we welcome all who feel called to help the people of New Orleans rebuild their city.

There is plenty of work for unskilled workers as well as the lightly skilled. We mix our work team membership to use all skill levels for the work they give us. Having just a couple of members with construction skills in each group offers a unique opportunity for learning and building relationships.

Travel, meals and accommodations

We drive to New Orleans together as a group, usually on a Sunday. We work Monday – Friday and return home Saturday. Catholic Charities provides simple nightly accommodations.

How long will the work continue?

It will take years, maybe decades to complete the rebuilding process. We have been going twice each year since October, 2006. We will continue as long as our volunteers’ interest and capability is maintained. We typically have a group of about 15 each trip from a resource pool of 50 people who have joined us at least once and 15 who have gone at least 3 times. Almost everyone has wanted to return a second time.

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