VOLUNTEER

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with United Peace Relief. Listed below are the volunteer opportunities and organizations we have developed a relationship with. Please use the links to check out the organizations and find the opportunity that will match your interests and/or skills. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or if you need assistance in connecting with any of these organizations. We will help guide you through the process. Some organizations require registration and advance notice. Once you have made your travel plans, have confirmed dates and registered with the organization of your choice if necessary, please advise United Peace Relief of your plans including your name, scheduled dates and contact information (e-mail, cell and home phones).  After you have completed your volunteer experience, we would love to hear from you with a description of your experience and feedback with your ideas and suggestions. We would also encourage all volunteers to post to the journal at our website.

Volunteer Placement Opportunities

1. Books For Kids, New Orleans, LA and Gulf Coast of MS. This is an excellent way to volunteer with the Gulf Coast recovery from your home town. Since the fall of 2006, Books to Kids has provided quality children’s picture books and chapter books for young readers to children and families affected by Hurricane Katrina. They have distributed more than 8000 books to school libraries, community centers and individual homes. Their objective is to get books into the homes of children whose books were either lost due to flooding and destruction, or who may not have had books before Hurricane Katrina. They collect books from thrift stores, yard sales, and library book sales. They have received donations from many sources including Scholastic Publishing and Emergency Communities Relief Center in New Orleans. A major donor has been Harrison County Public Library in Mississippi. The books are carefully selected and sorted for quality with some cleaned or repaired. Contact info@unitedpeacerelief.org for more information.

2. Lower Ninth Ward Village, New Orleans, LA. The Lower 9th Ward Village is a community-driven, community-led, nonprofit based in the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans, Louisiana. The main goal of the Village is to bring together the entire Lower 9th Ward and to empower community members to be self-sufficient and to sustain an equitable quality of life. The Village focuses on connecting the elderly and youth with services and providing care and guidance from the community as a whole. The main purpose for the Lower 9th Ward Village is to serve as a focal point for residents returning to the neighborhood by offering a number of services in one centralized location, thereby contributing to community revitalization including a community kitchen, adult literacy programs, computer programs, vocational training programs, youth sports programs, music and art classes, and an information center. Find more information at www.lower9thwardvillage.org.

3. Plenty International, New Orleans, LA. Plenty’s work continues on the Gulf coast. Their field director, Tony Sferlazza, has been Plenty’s presence on the scene since May 2006. Plenty aids local residents in the reconstruction of their storm-damaged homes, supervises volunteers, and represents Plenty as a member of the regional Parish Long Term Recovery team. Tony recently testified at the International Tribunal on Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that was held in New Orleans and spoke about his eyewitness experience working in the area. Plenty is currently looking for volunteers with construction skills. Visit www.plenty.org for more information.

4. United Saints, Chauvin, LA. They are a community recovery organization combining local and national volunteers in the rebuilding of New Orleans and the surrounding area. They also focus on community outreach, including cooking for and feeding the homeless. First Street United Methodist Church and its non-profit Shalom Zone Community, Inc. were vibrant community organizations in the Central City neighborhood of New Orleans that provided low-income housing and offered after-school and weekend tutoring programs for neighborhood children. Katrina had a devastating impact, and for the organization, it meant a change in focus. The church began housing volunteers in October of 2005, and then in January 2006 to August 2007 partnered with Hands On, which contributed over $8 million in volunteer labor and gutted over 350 homes. United Saints has now combined forces with Hands On and Hope Force working in Chauvin, LA following Gustav and Ike. More information is available at www.unitedsaints.org or contact Daryl at 612-250-5555.

5. ARNO, New Orleans, LA. Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO) is an organization created and dedicated to the rescue and aid of abandoned and homeless animals in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi, including responding to the immediate needs of those animals in need of medical care or who have been neglected, abused and deprived of love. ARNO promotes the foster, adoption, and reunion of pets with caretakers, as well as spaying/neutering of all companion animals. Volunteers are needed to go into the community to feed and water strays. Volunteers are also needed for animal care in the warehouse and preparing the animals for relocation after adoption. You must have own transportation. Volunteer lodging is available. Bring portable bedding (tent, air mattress, cot, sleeping bag, etc.). Electricity and bathrooms are available but no showers. There is a small kitchenette but no meals served. You must be self-sustaining. To volunteer call 504-571-1900 or you can register online at http://www.animalrescueneworleans.org

6.  Hope Force, Chauvin, LA. Hope Force International responded immediately to the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast in the wakes of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, identifying Chauvin, Louisiana, as the location where they have focused ongoing efforts. In fact, until recently, HFI has been the only organization offering assistance in this small community. To date, they have helped over 100 households in the Chauvin, LA area by placing blue tarps on roofs (helping to minimize continuing water damage), distributing tarps to those able to do the job themselves, and large tree removal (where some residents were actually trapped in their homes). One area they worked in was the Isle de Jean Charles community, populated by people who have lived here for many generations -- comprised of Cajun and Native Americans. In this remote area, there was no evidence of other agencies present. More information at http://www.hopeforce.org/index.php or contact Craig at 903-714-8967.

7. A.C.O.R.N., New Orleans, LA. This organization has been doing huge amounts or work in the gulf coast area and New Orleans since the storm a year ago. They are now in great need for volunteers since many communities have put a deadline to homeowners on get their houses cleaned out. When you register to volunteer, you will be asked if you need housing. They provide transportation to the job sites; but if you are flying in, please arrange your own transportation to the office address. 18 years old or older please. Check out their website at www.acorn.org/cleanout to view a video on mucking and gutting houses. To volunteer e-mail rebuild@acorn.org.

8. Common Ground Collective, New Orleans, LA. Common Ground's mission is to provide short term relief for victims of hurricane disasters in the gulf coast region, and long term support in rebuilding the communities affected in the New Orleans area. Common Ground is a community-initiated volunteer organization offering assistance, mutual aid and support. The work gives hope to communities by working with them, providing for their immediate needs and emphasizes people working together to rebuild their lives in sustainable ways. To volunteer or for more information go to http://www.comonground.org.

9. Common Ground Health Clinic, Algiers, LA. The Common Ground Health Clinic is a non-profit organization that provides free quality health care for the greater New Orleans community, and develops and provides programs to address community health care needs through collaborative partnerships. For more information or to volunteer www.cghc.org.

P. O. Box 486
Ukiah, CA 95482
info@unitedpeacerelief.org