About Our Trips
Rebuilding Trips to New Orleans:
Useful facts:
About New Orleans:
o The state of Louisiana is divided in geographical areas known as parishes. Think of them as counties such as Bergen County, Rockland County, etc., not as church parishes as we know them up here. The city proper is in Orleans parish; the places we work and stay at are in St Bernard parish which is approximately 30 minutes from the French Quarter in the city. Nearby parishes are St Charles and Jefferson parishes
Temperature:
o On our January trip, the weather is a bit more fickle. While generally it is warmer in the day (anywhere from upper 50’s to lower 70’s) the mornings and evening tend to get cooler (40’s to 50’s) and winter rain is not uncommon
o The May trip has much warmer temperatures and not much in the way of the big differences in morning and evening temperatures. Think late June back home
The Work:
o The most important thing about being at work in rebuilding New Orleans is the relationship with the people whose homes we are helping to rebuild. Listening to them is the best thing we can do. If they are talking about their experiences, be present for them and their stories
o It will be nice to discover all that you are able to do. Most of us are unskilled workers. The people from St Bernard Project will train us and work with us to do the best job for the homeowner. The motto is not to do it as if it is your own house, or even your parent’s house, think that you are doing it for your grandmother and grandfather: with that mindset, we kind of go out of our way to make it as perfect as we can
Trip Costs:
o Generally, the airfare is approximately $300
o The weekly expense to stay at Camp Hope is $150
o Additionally, you may want to bring some spending money as we usually have at least one evening at the French Quarter (optional) and sometimes dinner may be away from Camp Hope as well (also optional)
Trip Overview
We have trips to New Orleans currently running in May and January. There is also a National Women’s Build Week in October. Many people attend, from college age teens to grandmothers and seniors. All are welcome!
In general, after signing up, the handling of all the details of getting ready occurs through the efforts of the teams who organize behind the scenes. An orientation is held a week or two prior to the trip so that everyone feels comfortable and knowledgeable about the trip specifics.
We gather and leave from the church parking lot and are driven to the airport to fly down to New Orleans. In New Orleans, we secure vans and cars for use during the week we are there.
We stay at a place called Camp Hope in St Bernard Parish about 30 to 40 minutes outside the downtown area. Camp Hope is a Habitat for Humanity volunteer camp. It is a converted Junior High School. There are rooms to stay in – approximately 20 to 30 bunk beds per each dormitory style rooms. Two hot meals per day plus lunch to take with you on work days is provided by Camp Hope. In addition, bathroom/shower facilities are also provided.
We are assigned our work for the week by St Bernard Project, a not-for-profit organization who has an organized building taskforce that is situated in the St Bernard Parish area. We usually have a quick orientation at their offices on the first day of work. They have on-site supervisors at each job site.
We perform many different types of jobs, including sheetrocking, mudding (plastering) and taping, sanding, painting and clean-up. We are trained in all the work we are doing by the on-site supervisors who are also around to assist us in performing the tasks correctly. All tools are provided.
At the end of the week, we fly home and are picked up at the airport and returned to the church parking lot.
Checklist of things to bring:
o ONLY ONE piece of checked luggage. We are limited by space capacity in the vans and cars. Large wheeled duffels seem to work well
o Bed Linens: bring sheets (single bed) and a blanket. Sleeping bag works also. You need to bring your own pillow.
o Towel. You may want to bring 2 towels if there is room + hand towel also
o All toiletries you will need. BRING ADVIL!!!
o Work Boots. This is a requirement. Sneakers are not allowed as work-site footwear. K-Mart has inexpensive ones with steel toes to better protect you feet (appx $19.99) You may feel like donating them at the end of the week
o Work Gloves. Suggested you write your initials on them in marker prior to leaving
o Safety Goggles
o Cap or Hat or Bandana
o Old clothes: you WILL get messy. Bring clothes you will not be upset about getting destroyed
o Even in May, bring one lightweight long sleeved shirt – in case you will be doing insulation work
o If you have allergies or asthma, you may want to bring a respirator type mask. Masks are provided (and required) when we do sanding, but they are the cheaper disposable types
o To save on packing, some suggested to change into fresh clothes after your shower in the afternoon, then wear them the next day as your work clothes
o Jan trip: bring clothes you can layer (fleece, sweatshirts, etc.) so you can dress warmly and remove as the day heats up
o Flip-flops. Great and essential for showering purposes.
o Zip-Loc bags: you may want to bring a large zip-loc to hold your showering toiletries in when you go to and from the showers
o Lock. There are lockers (school style) there. If you wish to store stuff there, bring a small lock (key may be easier, or combination lock works too)
o Camera: get some shots to share when you get home. Disposables work well also and eliminate the worry of possibly losing your good camera
o Kitchen garbage bag (or 2) comes in useful for putting your dirty laundry in
o Water Bottle. (like a sports bottle or a Nalgene bottle) label it with your name or initials. Camp Hope has water available in coolers, and we will have water to take to the work sites
Other Points:
Camp Hope has the “Give/Take Room.” There are many articles there (pillows, blankets, clothes, sleeping bags, towels, etc.) that people leave from their stay. Things are laundered before they make their way in there. You are free to leave things you wish to donate or take whatever you may need.
Camp Hope has a coin-operated laundry available 24/7. There are bill changing machines in the laundry, as well as coin operated dispensers of laundry soap. (Wash cycle is approximately 35 minutes; each drying cycle is appx 45 minutes. Count on needing 2 dry cycles per load of laundry). There are chairs and tables there if you’d like to hang out and read or whatever.
Camp Hope also has a small “store” area. You can get most essentials there, as well as laundry detergent.