Responding to 2005 Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma

Thanks to the volunteer work team from Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church for sharing this photo from their March 2009 trip to New Orleans.

What's going on at the villages?

PDA and Hurricane Katrina: in it for the long run

1.2 million volunteer hours in, Presbyterians still going to Gulf region

Carpentry, drywall and other rebuilding skills are in demand. Photo by Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church, Maryland.

LOUISVILLE — Nearly four years after Hurricane Katrine struck the Gulf Coast, Presbyterians continue to travel to the region in unprecedented numbers to aid with long-term recovery efforts, according to figures released this week by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

“Presbyterians understand the need for long-term recovery efforts,” PDA Coordinator Randy Ackley told the Presbyterian News Service in an April 16 interview. “Most NGOs (non-governmental organizations) provide extensive short-term relief but just don’t stick around for the long-term,” said Ackley, who has many years experience in the field, having served with the American Red Cross before joining PDA last year. [Read the entire story]

Family Weeks in the Gulf Coast 2009

Family Week: Mothers bring your sons and daughters; fathers bring your daughters; grandparents, aunts and uncles come together in mission in New Orleans.

Father/Son Week: Make your Father’s Day special — call your son and meet him in the Gulf. An online video shares the story of one of the 2008 father and son teams.

Youth Weeks: Successful in 2008, youth ages 16+ will spend time helping with recovery efforts again in Louisiana, and also in Texas in 2009.

Three years of faithful witness and relationships
A video showing how long-term relationships formed over the past three years continue to transform houses to homes and witness Christ’s love to survivors of the 2005 U.S. hurricanes is now available online and as part of the DVD titled "Three Years of Responding to Gulf Coast Hurricanes – Presbyterians’ Faithful Witness and Relationships Continue." Read more about the video and view it online or order your free copy.

Reports and background information about the 2005 hurricane response.

Helpful links

Presbyterian News Service stories

• Hope restored — Presbyterian Community Outreach rebuilds homes, restores faith
• Turning things around — Project Homecoming helps rebuild homes in New Orleans
• Monday mornings with a mission — Olive Tree village gears up volunteers for a week in the Gulf
• Taking a bite out of the elephant — Presbyterians, Methodists join to continue rebuilding in southwest Louisiana
• Creature comforts — Louisiana congregation, complete with stuffed animals, welcomes volunteers to PDA village in Houma
• PDA volunteer village near New Orleans closes — Luling camp that housed 3,500 makes room for one closer to city

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