United Way E News 2007 Volume 7

If I had a hammer…
More Than 500 Women Volunteers Recruited to Rebuild Homes in St. Bernard

The St. Bernard Project, in partnership with the Women’s Leadership Council of United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area, is hosting a Women’s Rebuild Week. Kicking off at 8:30 a.m. Monday, October 8, Women’s Rebuild Week volunteers will rebuild the homes of ten families. Ten teams, each with at least ten volunteers, will participate in all phases of the rebuilding work including painting, flooring, and installing cabinets, trimming, doors and windows. By the end of the Women’s Rebuild, ten more families will be one week closer to moving out of their FEMA trailers and back into their homes.

The two organizations are actively recruiting more than 500 women volunteers to participate in the week-long build. Although the event is targeting women volunteers, men are encouraged to participate as well. For six days volunteers will work at least seven hours a day for a total of 4,200 hours of volunteer labor. Families’ homes that Hurricane Katrina rendered uninhabitable will be rebuilt. Saturday will be a special volunteer day targeting mothers and daughters and mothers and sons.

Everyone can do their part to help with the rebuild, even those unable to physically assist in the building process. With a $2500 contribution, a single room can be built. Additionally, a $5,000 donation can build a kitchen or a bathroom, and a $10,000 donation builds an entire house.

Since starting to rebuild homes in August 2006, the St. Bernard Project has assisted more than 93 families; 69 families have moved back into their homes and 24 families’ homes are currently being rebuilt. More than 3,000 volunteers from around the world have worked with the St. Bernard Project to help hard-working families rebuild their homes.

The Women’s Leadership Council consists of more than 500 members who have worked to change the lives of women and the face of child care services in the Greater New Orleans Area, collectively investing more than $1 million in quality child care to ensure that all children are ready to learn when they enter school. The WLC is committed to making certain that issues important to women are being adequately addressed and funded.