Stepping Out On Faith

To our Common Grounders--volunteers and donors and collaborative friends--as always, we need money to keep it going. We've had an amazing year and now with Make It Right at our doorstep and a training program in the works, we're still busy doing what needs to be done and we need your help.

We hope you'll read our end of year letter and make a donation to Common Ground. Starting January 1st, Common Ground, utilizing its new non-profit status, will become an independent entity and all the work will be done, on the ground in the Lower 9th Ward. We think this is an exciting time and we hope you'll continue to journey along with us.

A Little Background

Common Ground Relief formed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to provide emergency relief to survivors of the storm. With a shared vision of “Solidarity, not Charity”, veterans, doctors, journalists, lawyers, and people of conscience from many backgrounds banded together to quickly activate an international network of support. People rolled up their sleeves and worked together in order to offer much needed supplies and mutual aid through makeshift distribution centers, free clinics, communication centers and temporary shelters in neglected communities around New Orleans.

Our organization grew quickly and surpassed any expectation, even within the first few months of formation. Experimentation and immediate response to daily obstacles informed the first year of Common Ground’s work. Within that year, major projects were established, and several of those matured enough to form independent sister organizations, like the free Common Ground Health Clinic. During that time we raised $1.8 million in donations to provide 450,000 Louisiana residents with direct and indirect services.

Despite diminishing response and donations since the storm, Common Ground Relief will continue its on-the-ground work to address New Orleans most pressing post-Katrina ecological and social issues. In the coming year, CGR will continue providing free legal services, offering free room and board for committed volunteers, restoring the region’s wetlands, rebuilding homes, and standing up for peace and justice.

Common Ground Relief thanks you for your continued support in this monumental effort to rebuild New Orleans. We hope you’ll continue on this journey with us into the next year. CGR is now an independent non-profit. If you make monthly donations, please change electronic transfers from Community Futures Collective to CGR directly. Your donation will aid people in their efforts to return
to this great city to rebuild their homes, lives and communities.