Organizations A - F

Arc of Greater New Orleans
Contact: Colleen Morgan
504-701-1880; colleen@bayourebirth.org
Arc of Greater New Orleans is a United Way partner agency with the mission of supporting and
improving the lives of citizens with intellectual disabilities. This organization, which has
facilities in Jefferson Parish (Eastbank and Westbank) and Orleans Parish (Uptown), has many
volunteer needs that range from accomplishing a challenging physical task to assisting a group at
the movies. A division of the Arc, called Arc Enterprises, operates several businesses that
employ residents with intellectual disabilities. These enterprises include a grounds maintenance
and landscaping division, a day care center, the Vintage Garden Kitchen - which makes healthy
house made soups - and the Mardi Gras Recyclers, a bead recycling project. The organization
also has periodic needs, such as an upcoming project to build a natural playscape at the day care
center, selling soups at farmers markets on the weekends or painting classrooms and activity
rooms. Some if not all of the projects would integrate Arc's clients with the volunteer group.

Bayou Rebirth
Contact: Paxson Sterling
504-267-5724, paxson@bayourebirth.org
Bayou Rebirth has the mission of matching volunteers to wetlands restoration projects in the
Southeast Louisiana. Healthy wetlands once surrounded the greater New Orleans area and
protected it from hurricane storm surge, but various human activities have led to their
degradation and disappearance. In collaboration with its partner organization, Common Ground
Relief, Bayou Rebirth facilitates volunteer planting projects in the wetlands that surround the city
and grows out the plant material for those projects. Bayou Rebirth is responsible for the
operation's nursery in New Orleans East and the Neighborhood Nursery Program, which is
establishing wetland plant nurseries in vacant lots around the city and engaging local volunteers
in maintaining the nurseries. The two organization are also partnering to install raingardens
alongside buildings and homes, which use native freshwater plants to trap rainwater during
storms and decreasing the load on the system that pumps water out of the city.
Bayou Rebirth offers a full day or half day of volunteer work (minimum of four hours),
depending on the group's interest. Planting projects require a full day and groups of 50
volunteers or less is optimal. Half day projects include work at the New Orleans East nursery,
one of the Neighborhood Nurseries, or at a raingarden project. There is a fee charged that pays
for the coordination and materials for the project, and depends on the project and number of
volunteers.

Build Now
www.buildnownola.com
504-373-6962
Build Now, a non-profit homebuilder, works with families who face the challenges of
rebuilding in New Orleans. The non-profit has carved out a unique niche that focuses on prestorm
homeowners who want to rebuild. Since its inception, Build Now has helped residents
return home in Gentilly, the 9th Ward, Lakeview, Hollygrove, Chalmette and Central City.
Build Now's mission is to empower each neighborhoods original residents to return home to
regain and maintain their vitality and culture. The non-profit provides an alternative to
substantial renovations of modular homes by designing and constructing site-built, elevated
homes that reflect the traditional style and quality of New Orleans architecture.
Build Now is seeking to partner with visiting conventions to grow the Build Now Gap Fund,
which seals the gaps in financing that many families encounter during the rebuilding process.
Build Nows Foundation of Hope campaign allows people to donate funds that will serve as the
foundation of a familys new home in post-Katrina New Orleans.

Camp Restore
Contact: Alyssa McCormack
504-242-2636, alyssa@camprestore.org
www.camprestore.org, facebook.com/camprestore
Restore and be restored! Join us and our 80-plus nonprofit partners throughout Greater New Orleans as we work to restore faith, home and community. Since 2006 we've hosted over 20,000 volunteers of all ages who've invested their time, talent and gifts making a difference in NOLA.
From planting trees in the wetlands to rebuilding homes to visiting the elderly, we help volunteer groups engage a wide range of opportunities for service alongside New Orleans' local volunteer base.
Three meals a day featuring traditional New Orleans recipes, lodging and project coordination are provided for a fee of $35 per person per night. Rates and options are adjustable for groups staying offsite and those with other considerations.
Located on the campus of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on Chef Menteur Hwy, Camp Restore is less than 15 minutes away from the French Quarter via I-10 and is charter-bus-friendly.

Caps for Kids
Contact:Kathleen McCulla, National Executive Director
504-891-4277, kmcculla@capsforkids.org
www.capsforkids.org
Caps for Kids, founded in New Orleans in 1993, now reaching pediatric cancer patients all across the United States and Canada. Caps for Kids provides celebrity autographed caps for children who have lost their hair from medical treatments. Suddenly, a hat becomes more than just a gift - it becomes a symbol of hope!

Catholic Charities
Contact: Shannon Murphy, Director of Volunteers
504-310-6962, smurphy@archdiocese-no.org
www.ccano.org
This multi- faceted organization serves a variety of organizations and needs, including response
and recovery, housing, healthcare and education. Volunteer opportunities range from ½ day activities to 2 day opportunities, from assisting at Second Harvesters Food Bank to helping repaint and repair a person's home damaged from Katrina.

Catholic Charities Operation Helping Hands
Contact: Bethany Billman, Volunteer Coordinator
504-210-7538 (cell), 504-324-4318 x230 (direct), ohhvolunteer@ccano.org
http://www.ccano.org/programs/operation-helping-hands
Since November 2005, Operation Helping Hands has brought more than 25,500 volunteers to gut
and rebuild homes devastated in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The goal of Operation Helping
Hands is to provide elderly, disabled and/or low-income homeowners safe, secure and functional
housing as efficiently and affordably as possible. Due to the overwhelming response we've had
from volunteers across the country, Operation Helping Hands has gutted over 1,900 homes,
rebuilt over 150 and painted over 400.
We are always looking for volunteers to work with our rebuilding and exterior paint programs.
Our work varies week by week, but can include hanging and finishing drywall, tiling, laying
laminate floor, installing trim, exterior painting and basic carpentry.
· We welcome skilled volunteers, but we are happy work with those from all backgrounds.
· All volunteers must be 16 years of age.
· All volunteers must provide their own transportation to and from the work site.
· We accept both individual volunteers and groups.
· For groups interested in spending a week working with our program, we can offer
housing and meals for $50/person/day.
· For those who may be in town on vacation or for a convention, we're happy to work with
you for a single day (or two). Please note that due to the set up required on many of our
sites, we aren't able to offer ½ days. Our hours are Monday - Friday, from 7:45AM -
4PM, with some additional Saturday work days.

Choice Foundation - Exemplary Public Charter Schools
Operator of Lafayette Academy Charter School, Esperanza Charter School, and McDonogh 42 Charter School
Contact: Jeanne Huber
504-861-7957, jeanne.huber@lafayetteacademyno.org
http://www.lafayetteacademyno.org/

The Choice Foundation operates tuition-free, open-enrollment elementary schools in the South Carrollton, Mid-City, and Treme neighborhoods.  The schools give their students - of whom more than 90% receive free or reduced lunch - a rigorous academic education that is enriched by a variety of technology, fine arts, athletics, and social services programs.  For their work improving public elementary education in the New Orleans Recovery School District, the schools have received awards and/or grants from the U.S. Department of Education, MetLife, and the Walton Family Foundation, among others.

The schools rely heavily on volunteers, and welcome volunteer assistance in almost any form.  Immediate needs, however, include: help repainting basketball courts, volleyball courts, and classroom numbers; help developing the school libraries; help in the Esperanza Charter School garden; assistance with annual Book Fair; assistance with annual students' "Holiday Superstore"; and help with administrative filing in the Special Education Office.

City Park, New Orleans
Contact: Steve Ryman
504-483-9459, sryman@nocp.org (email is preferred)
http://neworleanscitypark.com/volunteer.html
New Orleans City Park is one of the largest urban parks in the USA. We have 1,200 acres of
land and 22 miles of shorelines. This huge green oasis in the midst of the Big Easy has captured
the hearts of locals and visitors for over 150 years. Our volunteers play a key role in maintaining
and developing a stronger park. With our budget recently cut by the State of Louisiana by over
50 percent and our current staff still reduced to 85 full-time employees (before Hurricane Katrina
we had 115 full- time employees), volunteers are essential for the Park to take its place in the
cultural and recreational rebirth of New Orleans.
What you need to know:
· City Park is prepared to welcome groups of all sizes.
· The Park will assign at least one employee to work with the volunteers on the day of
service.
· Given their financial situation, they ask convention and corporate groups to make a
financial contribution to the park that will, at a minimum, cover the cost of supplies and
materials used on their volunteer day. Supplies and materials can include plants, soil,
mulch, paint... contributions vary but they tend to average between $25 and $50 per
person. Most companies send them a check and then they purchase supplies. They also
have a large inventory of in house supplies that will be used for the vo lunteer projects.
· The Park has found that most groups' projects are best planned within 3 hours of service,
although this can be adjusted.
· Volunteers are encouraged to dress appropriately (no open-toed sandals, wear a hat, and
apply sunscreen.)
· Volunteers are responsible for providing any beverages they wish to drink and food they
wish to consume. Bring plenty of liquids year round, but particularly during the summer
months.
· They have many different projects at the park that will vary depending on the financial
contribution, number of people in your group, and the level of difficulty of work that the
group is willing to embrace.
The work is rewarding: Groups come to the park and tackle an area that needs work. After an
investment of three hours, the area is much improved and the volunteers leave with a great sense
of accomplishment!

City Year
Contact: Bethany Housman
504-208-0553, bhousman@cityyear.org (email is the best way to make initial contact)
www.cityyear.org/sites/louisiana
City Year is a group of young people dedicating a year of life to service in New Orleans, as it
relates to recovery and education. We can help to identify opportunities for service and
coordinate activities at various locations around the city, including schools and other
organizations with needs. We do charge a fee per head to cover cost of equipment,
transportation, catering, etc. In addition, City Year annually recruits volunteers for large scale
community service days that celebrate National Make a Difference Day, Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr. Day, and Global Youth Service Day. For the academic year 2010-2011, City Year plans on
focusing primarily on the needs of the Recovery Schools District.

Common Ground Relief, Inc.
Contact: Volunteer@commongroundrelief.org
504.312.1729, http://www.commongroundrelief.org/
Common Ground Relief, Inc. conducts bottomland hardwood trees and marsh grass installations throughout the bayous and urban forest surrounding Greater New Orleans. Half day and full day excursions led by trained personnel are available for groups up to 40. Work can include care and maintenance of plants grown at the Common Ground Relief Wetlands Restoration Station in New Orleans East or a full day excursion planting trees.
We also have our Gulf Saver Bag Initiative for hardy souls interested in a boat ride down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico to plant marsh grass and black mangrove trees.
Call our Wetlands Coordinator for projects, pricing and availability. Volunteer Housing, including 3 meals per day, is available for groups as large as 30. The cost is $20 per day per person.
More than 35,000 volunteers have participated in our wetlands and rebuilding programs since September 2005. We have created a wetlands demonstration area at our offices as well as constructed an example of the energy efficient, affordable housing we are constructing with our contractor partner throughout the region. 

Dress for Success - New Orleans Chapter
Contact: Diane B. Lyons, Dress for Success Board Member
504-524-1227, dlyons@accent-dmc.com
The New Orleans Chapter of Dress for Success's mission is to promote the economic
independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a support network and
career development tools to help them thrive in work and life! Through job preparation,
employment retention and career development programs, Dress for Success New Orleans
addresses the needs of low income women by promoting economic security and self-sufficiency
to break the chains of generational poverty.
It's true that giving back builds better communities, but it doesn't always have to involve heavylifting!
There are numerous volunteer opportunities - be a personal shopper assisting with
clothes choices; sort clothes donations or host a suit drive or have a unique interactive teambuilding exercise for your group....a "Project Runway" style event is fun and fabulous! Encourage your attendees to participate and support this amazing program.

Friends  in Need Foundation
Contact: LisaJo Hienz, 504-267-1908, lisajo@finfoundation.org
www.finfoundation.org
The Friends in Need Foundation is a small, non-profit organization formed in July 1997 to provide financial assistance to Southeastern Louisiana families in need as a result of medical crisis.
We are a group of people helping people; friends of like mind and spirit who believe that sometimes crises are too big to be managed alone. We are people just like you, who have been galvanized by the needs of others in the community and motivated to respond. Among us, we possess a range of skills, but we can always use more. Together we are more than the sum of the individuals. We understand that a medical crisis can happen to anyone, at any time-without warning or time for preparation.
That is where FIN comes in. This is who we are and what we do.

Friends of the Jefferson Animal Shelter
Contact: Julie Bowen
504-400-5834, jfaskittens@yahoo.com
www.fjas.petfinder.com
Friends of the Jefferson Animal Shelter is a non-profit all- volunteer organization whose mission
is to assist the Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter. We need volunteers for Pet Adoption Days, the
Shelter Dog Socialization Program, our Kitten Fostering Program, and to help out at the Purr
Pad, our offsite cat adoption center at Jefferson Feed. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.