VOLUNTEERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIASATER RESPONSE
in Bayou LaBatre, Alabama
Lutheran Family and Children's Services continues to organize volunteers and volunteer groups to assist with hurricane disaster recovery on the Gulf Coast. LFCS periodically schedules volunteers from Missouri to travel to the Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) location in Bayou LaBatre Alabama. This area of the Gulf Coast – like New Orleans – was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. LDR has a presence all along affected areas of the Gulf Coast but the LFCS effort focuses upon southern Mobile County, Alabama and primarily encourages volunteers to assist in that area.
For Hurricane Katrina, we are now in the long term recovery mode as opposed to cleaning up storm damage. Volunteers are reconstructing homes of residents destroyed by storm surge flood waters, and are performing such things as dry wall installation, roofing, carpentry, and painting. Volunteers with enhanced construction skills may undertake more challenging tasks such as with electrical and plumbing work.
LDR - Bayou LaBatre selects the reconstruction projects to be worked and has a backlog of over 1000 structures needing to be reconstructed in its area. Volunteers are organized into work teams, assigned work orders, issued construction tools, and given guidance by a LDR construction manager. Housing and meals for volunteers are provided, usually at a local church. There is no charge for these accommodations but volunteers may want to make a personal donation to the host church to support those efforts.
Email us at Disaster Response if you have any additonal questions or would like to register to become a volunteer.
