Published by the Queens Federation of Churches
First of its Kind CWS Project Wins National Award
Neighborhood: New Orleans Honored by Leading Network of U.S. Aid Agencies

May 19, 2009

SALT LAKE CITY – Paint is barely dry on the homes it helped rebuild in Little Woods but already the Neighborhood: New Orleans project has garnered a national award for New York-based humanitarian agency Church World Service.

National Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster chose to honor Neighborhood: New Orleans with its 2009 Innovative Program of the Year Award, presented at the National VOAD annual conference in Salt Lake City.

National VOAD is a coalition of nonprofit organizations that respond to disasters as part of their overall mission. "We are deeply honored to be selected by our peers for this outstanding award, CWS Emergency response Director Donna Derr said. "To be honored for this project in its first-ever installment reaffirms our philosophy that working together we accomplish more."

The "Neighborhood: New Orleans" rebuild initiative was the first national ecumenical volunteer effort in New Orleans, using revolving teams from 10 different member agencies of CWS, working side by side.

CWS worked with its local partner, the Crescent Alliance Recovery Effort to identify a neighborhood in New Orleans where recovery from Hurricane Katrina has been sparse.

"We wanted to work in an area where, by working together under one banner, we could return families home and accelerate a whole neighborhood's recovery," Derr said.

CWS was among early responders to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, providing emergency aid and equipment for schools' recovery and assisting in the formation of long-term recovery organizations to help the most vulnerable survivors.

Those church agencies participating in the Little Woods rebuild also have been active in the region's recovery since the devastation. In collaboration with CARE and Church World Service, church groups who participated in the project include: American Baptist Churches USA, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, Church of the Brethren Disaster Ministries, Lutheran Disaster Response, Mennonite Disaster Service, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Reformed Church in America Global Mission, the United Church of Christ, and United Methodist Committee on Relief.

Church World Service

(Left to right) Ellenor Simmons of CARE, the Rev. Kevin Massey of Lutheran Disaster Response, Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III, Executive Director of National Ministries for American Baptist Churches USA, Church World Service CEO the Rev. John McCullough, and homeowner Gloria Mouton at the May 13 event celebrating the return home for 12 New Orleans families. Church World Service and ten denominational partners organized a volunteer effort that rebuilt or repaired the families' homes in the Little Woods neighborhood of New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward in the past month. Matt Hackworth/Church World Service, May 2009

At least 125 volunteers in purple shirts gathered in celebration of the neighborhood rebuilding effort and Gloria Mouton's return home, just before picking up their hammers and going back to work. Church World Service and ten denominational partners organized a volunteer effort that is rebuilding or repairing 12 families' homes in the Little Woods neighborhood of New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward this spring. Matt Hackworth/Church World Service, May 2009

 
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Last Updated May 23, 2009