U.S. Gulf Coast Hurricanes, 2005 & Florida Tornadoes, 2007
South Central Conference, UCC, New Orleans Association, Louisiana
Recovery efforts in response to Hurricanes of 2005 are underway in New Orleans
At this stage of recovery, the work is primarily rebuilding of private homes. You are asked to have one person in eight in your group be knowledgeable in home repair and rehabilitation techniques and as crew leaders. Knowledgeable crew leaders allow the disaster ministry staff to better coordinate, plan and keep groups supplied with material. Particular construction skills needed: roofing, sheet rocking, house framing, flooring finished carpentry. The Disaster Recovery Office identifies work projects, schedules volunteer groups, and coordinates general UCC disaster recovery efforts in the New Orleans association.
Contact to Schedule
individuals, couples, and families meeting the minimum age requirements are welcome and should also complete the online registration form. To register, please complete the on-line registration form where you can indicate a first and second choice of weeks and the number of people in your group. Week-long groups are asked to arrive on Sunday and depart on Saturday. Groups are scheduled in the order they are received from this online registration. You will receive a confirmation or request to consider another week in response to your online registration. If you would like to check the availability of open weeks or if you have questions, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator in New Orleans at ucchurricanerecovery@yahoo.com or phone: 504-258-7306.
Minimum Age
16 years
Adult to Youth Ratio 1:5
Accommodations
Groups will be housed at Little Farms UCC in River Ridge, St. Paul's UCC in New Orleans or St. Matthew's UCC in New Orleans. Each church is equipped with bunk beds, cots and/or twin size air beds. Sheets, some light weight blankets and pillows are supplied. Kitchen, toilet and shower facilities, as well as washers and dryers are available on-site. Groups are responsible for their own meals and are expected to keep their housing facility clean throughout the week and do a thorough cleaning before departing.
Donation to Host Church
$50/person/week
$10/person/day if staying less than one week
Payable On-Site
Waiver Forms
Orientation Materials for New Orleans
Back Bay Mission, Biloxi, Mississippi
Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, MS has a well-known work camping program and is coordinating disaster recovery work groups through that program. Both housing rehabilitation and new building projects are underway.
Contact to Schedule
Please contact Back Bay Mission directly to schedule your work group. You can reach the Volunteer Coordinator at bbvol@datasync.com or by phone 228-432-0301 ext. 205.
Cost
$50/person/week plus $150 per group with on-campus housing. $75/person/week plus $150 per group with off-campus housing at Seashore Methodist Assembly. Consult volunteer coordinator for additional information about registration cost.
Minimum Age
14 years
Adult to Youth Ratio 1:5
Accommodations
Groups are housed on-site at Back Bay Mission. Additional groups through Back Bay Mission may also be housed at Seashore Methodist Assembly, a Biloxi-based facility less than two miles from the Back Bay Mission campus. Bunks, mattresses and showers are provided. Kitchen facilities are provided at the on-site Back Bay Mission housing. Meals are provided at the Seashore Methodist Assembly housing location.
Waiver Forms
Available from Back Bay Mission Volunteer Coordinator at time of registration
Florida Conference, UCC
With the UCC commitment to long-term disaster recovery, work groups continue to be sought for assistance in Florida in response to hurricanes during 2004, hurricanes Katrina and Wilma in 2005 and the 2007 Groundhog Day tornadoes. For more information and photos, see website of Florida Conference, UCC Disaster Ministries and Response
Contact to Schedule
You can reach Stephanie Cohan, Volunteer Coordinator for Disaster Response and Recovery by email at recovery@uccfla.net or by phone at 305-758-4845 or 800-416-1147.
Cost
$50/person/week
$10/person/day if staying less than one week
Payable in advance or on-site
Minimum Age
15 years
Adult to Youth Ratio: 1:5
Accommodations
Local volunteer shelters and churches near locations throughout state of Florida, particularly in central and southern Florida.
Waiver Forms
Available from Volunteer Coordinator at time of registration. Or download from Florida Conference, UCC Disaster Ministries and Response
Other Types of Group Mission Trip Opportunities also available
See UCC Mission Trip Opportunities 2008 for more information.
