May 21, 2009
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper

More than 500 volunteers worked on rebuilding 12 homes in the Little Woods neighborhood of New Orleans in one month's time. Four years ago Hurricane Katrina devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast. About half of the homes in Little Woods remain untouched. In an effort to assist homeowners there move back into their homes, Church World Service spearheaded a rebuilding initiative called "Neighborhood: New Orleans" April 19-May 16, 2009. The 500 volunteers, organized in teams serving one week each, represented 10 Christian denominations across the United States, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) contributed $50,000 towards the initiative. LDR is a collaborative ministry of the ELCA and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Gloria Mouton opened the door to her like-new home in Little Woods May 13. A special ribbon-cutting ceremony took place, featuring a brass band and a parade of well-wishers. According to Church World Service, homeowners who received recovery assistance had exhausted their resources and all other possibilities. The agency hopes its initiative will spur more rebuilding of hurricane-damaged homes along the Gulf Coast.

"Despite the ongoing headlines about failing companies and struggling investment portfolios, the partners of Church World Service have come together to make an investment in the continued rebuilding of affected communities on the Gulf Coast," said Michael Nevergall, assistant director, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response. "Through the power of hundreds of volunteers who have made investments of their own, we have shown the power of people of faith working together. Faith-based groups and volunteers, working together, can accomplish even more amazing things than each can separately." Nevergall and the Rev. Kevin A. Massey, director for LDR and ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, participated in the initiative May 11-15. The ELCA participates in the work of Church World Service.

ELCA News Service