Volunteer Groups Helping, Little by Little

by Aletheia Higgins
photography by Mavis Yorks

Like most volunteer based organizations, Common Ground has a lot of turn over. Some volunteers stay for months on end, whether they planned to or not, finding themselves drawn in by New Orleans’ unique culture with a refashioned passion for aiding the rebuilding effort. However, most of the volunteers only come for short periods of time, as a result of having school, family or jobs to return home to. Though the time spent in New Orleans and with Common Ground may be short, the volunteers play a vital role in the rebuilding endeavor. The groups or individual volunteers vary in their interests but all recognize an important fact: New Orleans is still recovering from the hurricanes and much help is still needed.

A group of Earth Science graduate students from Johns Hopkins University recently volunteered for a day with Common Ground. They didn’t come to New Orleans for the express purpose of doing this, but to do research. However, they felt it was inappropriate to be in the area without lending a hand. They spent their day cutting the lawn, helping to save someone's land from being taken away under the "good neighbor policy." Their work was greatly appreciated.

The Congregational Church of Topsfield in Massachusetts brought its Senior High Youth to New Orleans expressly to aid in the rebuilding effort. They recognized that a lot of work was still required and they “wanted to be part of the process,” explains Betsey Guest-Natale, the Director of Youth Ministries and Missions. During the day they worked with Common Ground by clearing properties. Ms Natale expressed surprise of the state of the Lower Ninth Ward. “It was hard to believe we were still in the United States. We thought that the rebuilding would be much farther along,” she observed.

Both groups were shocked by the lack of development in the Lower 9th, the most devastated area of New Orleans. The rebuilding in this area is experiencing a slow transition, from demolition to gradual, snail paced, reconstruction. Skilled laborers are greatly needed to expedite the process in these communities.

Common Ground has recently launched its “Community Adoption” project through which national and international supporters of the rebuilding of the Ninth Ward may adopt a house, church, school or block of homes, for repairs and or reconstruction.

This can be done through a variety of means such as facilitating skilled laborers, providing materials or financial support.