Last summer I got to join in the rebuilding of New Orleans. Witnessing one of the most interesting rebuilds in the history of our country was truly remarkable. We loved meeting people who are rebuilding their lives and their communities in New Orleans. There were six in our group last year and I hope we can double that number this year. As of May 3rd, our group includes 2 farmers, 2 Bostonians, 2 college students, 1 or 2 Californians, 1 musician, 1 rabbi-educator, and maybe 1 photographer.
I will be in New Orleans from June 18th until June 26th. Please join us in New Orleans!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to “register” or “rsvp” by a certain date?
No – Just please make sure to let us know when you will be there and how we can reach you.
What if I can’t stay for a whole week?
There is no minimum required time to join us. You can volunteer for as few as a couple days or stay the entire week.
Will we really make a difference? Yes.
1. Just adding your energy to the town is great for New Orleans.
2. Our flexibility is great for the local community organizers.
3. Listening to people’s stories is one of the best things you can do while you are in New Orleans. The citizens of New Orleans may need to be reminded that Americans haven’t forgotten them or their city.
4. When you go to there and when you return, you will raise awareness about New Orleans.
5. Another important way that you will be making a difference is by spending your money in New Orleans. As simple as that may seem, each visitor to New Orleans who eats a meal, stays in a hotel, or buys some postcards adds more funds to the effort to rebuild.
What kind of work will we do?
We will be working with various local organizations while in New Orleans, such as community centers, student support projects, and more. The projects will most likely involve painting, sweeping, clearing out rubbish, mixing cement, and, of course, listening to instructions - just to name a few.
What will we do all day?
6:30-7am - Breakfast (& Coffee) on Our Own
7am - Travel Time
7:30am - Site Introduction
Work – maybe in the sun and/or heat
12:30 or 1pm - Short Discussion to Debrief
1:30 or 2pm - Return to Hotel
Lunch, Dinner, Music on Our Own – or: We can make plans once we get there.
What should I bring with me?
Please make sure to bring: sunscreen, a hat with a brim for shade, bug repellent, patience, and flexibility. If you own your own work gloves, work boots, goggles, you will probably like having them with you too. If not, just bring some sturdy shoes and lots of good socks – no flipflops – and we will try to borrow the rest. You also might want to prepare for some rain – just in case – just like Texas.
Note: If you ever take allergy medicine or asthma medicine, please make sure to bring that with you.
Is there anything else I should be aware of before going to New Orleans? New Orleans in June is hot and sticky. You should be particularly mindful if you have sensitivities to heat, mold, dust, etc.
Who arranges the transportation?I can make some suggestions, but you are responsible for your own travel arrangements. By car, a one-way trip to New Orleans from Austin takes about nine hours. Flights to New Orleans are frequent, but please buy your tickets as soon as possible. Airfare can average $250-$300 per person.
Where should I stay?
I am staying at the Place D’Armes in the French Quarter.
http://www.placedarmes.com/
It is a fantastic location – down the street from good live music and great coffee. Place D’Armes is family-owned and reasonably priced. The staff is warm and welcoming, kind and helpful. Plus, there is a small pool. Of course, there is a wide selection of other hotel options in New Orleans. Everyone is responsible for reserving his or her own hotel rooms.
Do we need to rent a car? Nope.
A. I will rent a van. People we work with will probably be able to offer us a few rides.
B. Also, taxis abound in New Orleans.
C. We will carpool - by planning our next days’ travels the night before. (That’s another reason to stay at the Place D’Armes.)
D. Plus - Cabs from the airport to the French Quarter cost about $30 for two people. A shuttle service will cost about $30 roundtrip per person.
Shouldn’t we go with a big organization?
If you prefer, Habitat for Humanity and Nechama, for example, are great organizations doing fantastic work in New Orleans.
On the other hand, connecting with local organizers, leaders, and citizens is meaningful in a number of different ways.
Because we are independent, we enjoy the flexibility of planning our own schedule.
Some of the smaller local organizations we work with would not get the help or attention of visitors and volunteers from big groups.
By reaching out to our friends (and their friends), we can step outside the ‘mainstream’ of New Orleans Recovery Efforts and/or Tourism.
Working with several organizations, as we will be doing, will allow us to gain a variety of perspectives and experiences.
Do I have to be Jewish to go with this group? Nope.
How much money do I need to bring? Per individual - you probably need approximately $30-$50 for meals each day as well as money for drinks to stay hydrated. You will need to constantly drink non-caffeinated drinks such as: water, sports drinks, lemonade, etc. It can be hot and uncomfortable in New Orleans – especially if you are sweeping or painting.
How young is the youngest participant?If you would like to bring a young person to work, please consider the strength and stamina of that particular young person. On the one hand, many 12 year olds can only work for 2 or 3 hours at a stretch. On the other hand, some 7 year olds have the patience to paint or sweep for hours on end. If you want help deciding, please contact me.
If you would like to bring your small children, you are welcome to. If you tell us soon, we can help you coordinate babysitting. Or you can enroll your children in the local JCC summer camp.
In planning for your children, please consider:
1. Your children will see and hear some things in New Orleans that you might not allow them to watch even on television. For example: there will be some public drunkenness, lewd language, and immodest dress. Most of this happens at night – though we sometimes will encounter evidence of the above “the next morning.”
2. It can be very discouraging to clean or build in a city that is struggling to clean up and rebuild on such a large scale. You may want to plan some child-focused activities to keep morale up. For example: you and/or your kids might enjoy joining various tours, shopping, visiting the zany animal parks, seeing Tulane, etc.
What if I have special dietary needs?
You probably will be able to find something vegetarian in most restaurants and stores. If you keep kosher, you will probably become vegetarian in New Orleans.
We won’t return home without:
· Seeing New Orleans
· Eating Well
· Hearing some live Jazz
· Meeting a variety of local leaders and organizers
· Working with a variety of local grass roots organizations
· Learning more about why and how New Orleans suffered during and after Hurricane Katrina
