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New Orleans Catholic Charities' Operation Helping Hands Marks Milestone |
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Catholic Charities USA - News and Info After nearly a year of helping elderly and disabled homeowners begin the clean-up process in flood-ravaged New Orleans, Catholic Charities volunteers their 1,000th home today. A group of from Dubuque, IA, worked on Isaac Bolden's Gentilly home, which took 10 feet of water in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Like many New Orleanians, Mr. Bolden did not hold flood insurance and suffers from major health problems. He is currently living in an apartment in Atlanta, but traveled back to New Orleans by train to thank the volunteers for bringing him one step closer to healing. To date, over 6,800 Operation Helping Hands volunteers from have gutted given 178,641 hours of service. More than 3,000 volunteers are scheduled to participate in Operation Helping Hands through March 2007 and about 1,300 homes remain on the waiting list. Volunteers have come from across the United States and as far as Canada and England to join in this effort. Operation Helping Hands of Catholic Charities of New Orleans volunteers help the elderly, disabled, and those without financial means to reoccupy their homes. Volunteers remove furniture, appliances, household goods, as well as damaged walls, ceiling, floors. "We started this project over Thanksgiving weekend last year and are so grateful to see how Operation Helping Hands has taken off," Joan Diaz, project manager for Operation Helping Hands, said. With the long-term Hurricanes Katrina and Rita recovery work now underway in the Gulf Coast, volunteers are essential part in helping communities and families rebuild in New Orleans and Mississippi. Learn more about volunteer opportunities in the Gulf Coast.
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