It’s no secret: New Orleans loves to party. From today’s Mardi Gras celebration to Jazz Fest and other events throughout the year, any time is the right time to plan a New Orleans vacation if you’re looking for a reason to celebrate and let the good times roll.
But for those whose idea of a ‘fun’ vacation involves something deeper than dripping with beads, Voluntourism opportunities abound in the Crescent City as well. And what better city to which to give a little of your personal time and sweat-equity?
While Hurricane Katrina may be a distant memory for some people in America, it’s anything but that in New Orleans. Sure, the tourist areas of the French Quarter and Garden District have done away with most of the evidence of the deluge suffered by the city in 2005, but other parts of New Orleans are still reeling. And while spending your tourist dollars certainly helps the locals, volunteering some of your time can do even more.
From light construction to painting, yard work, or serving meals, volunteer organizations offer a variety of tasks to the willing. With work opportunities ranging from a day to a week or more, it’s easy for visitors to chip in during their vacation schedules. Even better, many area hotels offer discounts to visitor volunteers.
The fine print: Volunteer projects aren’t necessarily full-serve excursions. You’ll need your own transportation to the worksite, for instance, and you should plan to take water for your workday. Volunteers usually bring their own meals, or take their lunch breaks in area restaurants. And there’s sometimes a small administrative cost to pony up, in addition to your time — all of which is similar to what you might expect if signing up for a tour or other vacation excursion, and none of which diminishes the power of doing something good while experiencing the local culture in a whole new way.
Below is a list of just a few of the opportunities that abound in New Orleans for travelers who want to give back:
Beacon of Hope Resource Center
The Beacon of Hope Resource Center sponsors programs that improve the quality of life in neighborhoods affected by the Katrina flood. Since the organization began in 2006, more than 12,000 volunteers have helped by working in neighborhoods and assisting homeowners — cleaning and painting homes, landscaping, and rebuilding playgrounds. All ages can participate in projects, so it’s a perfect opportunity for families or school groups.
“Our 2010 goals are to complete more than 200 projects,” says Heather Huth, director of volunteers for Beacon of Hope. “Right now, we already have more than 200 work requests in the hopper, so there’s always work available.” While 200 may not seem like much at first, Huth pointed out that each project can be complex. “Recently, it’s taken 26 volunteers over two days to work on one project, and it’s not yet completed. The home needed old paint scraped off, new paint applied and gardening done,” said Huth.
For more information, call 504-309-5120 or email volunteer@lakewoodbeacon.org.
St. Bernard Project
The St. Bernard Project began rebuilding homes in St. Bernard Parish in August 2006, and more than 18,000 volunteers have helped them. You can work towards rebuilding a family’s home, including hanging sheetrock, mudding/spackling, sanding, texturing, priming, painting, or laying floors. “For volunteers who can’t do physical labor, we also have office work available,” said Jen Kritch, volunteer coordinator for the St. Bernard Project.
The organization has built 258 homes so far, and 100 of them were completed just last year. “Our rough goal for 2010 is 133 homes, but we think we can do more,” says Kritch. The St. Bernard Project has expanded to Orleans Parish as well, so there’s plenty of work to do. Children can participate, but they must be at least 15 years old, and accompanied by a guardian.
For more information, register online or call 504-277-6831 and ask for the volunteer department.
HandsOn New Orleans
HandsOn New Orleans originally worked on disaster relief projects, but is now “moving more toward sustainability and critical community needs,” according to Kertrina Watson Lewis, executive director of the organization. Since 2006, HandsOn New Orleans has engaged more than 16,000 volunteers in 540,000 hours of service to the New Orleans community.
Projects range from constructing playgrounds to gardening, serving meals to visiting the elderly or people living with HIV/AIDS. “We want to make sure volunteers are paired with what interests them,” said Watson Lewis. Some projects allow children to participate. The organization can even provide housing for up to 50 volunteers per night in its volunteer home.
For more information, take a look at types of projects that may interest you, then call 504-483-7041, ext. 107, to sign up.
New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity
The 2010 goal for New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity is to build 50 homes in New Orleans. That might seem small, but imagine the 50 families who are living in temporary housing across the country, just waiting for those homes. “The goal is a little lower than last year, due to fewer volunteers and donations,” says Aleis Tusa, communications director for NOAHH.
As of Jan. 2010, NOAHH has built over 379 homes since 1983 and has 22 more homes under construction in five parishes around metro New Orleans. Since 2006, 92,240 volunteers have helped the organization. Says Tusa, “We’ve been here for 26 years. We’re committed to staying.” Children can participate, but they must be at least 16 years old, and accompanied by a guardian.
Interested volunteers can register online. For groups of 15 or more, call the volunteer office at 504-861-4121.
For additional ways to help, visit the Voluntourism section of the New Orleans Convention & Visitor’s Bureau website.
Beads photo by howieluvzus via Flickr
Photos courtesy of the Beacon of Hope Resource Center, the St. Bernard Project (courtesy Han Nguyen), HandsOn New Orleans, and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity.