Volunteer Opportunities

If your group is interested in planning a mission trip to West Virginia and Western Maryland, please contact the CLP office.  There are a variety of experiences available.

CLP currently has two LDR grants for flood recovery work in southern WV.  If your group is interested in a mission trip to this area, please contact Sherri for the updated information.

Southern WV - There a lot of groups in this area that help put together mission opportunities for groups.  An example is called Community Crossing in McDowell.  Their charge is around $300 per person and it includes all site coordination (materials, etc) and lodging.  Meals are on your own.

When people tend to think of WV and Appalachia, southern WV is the area that most often comes to mind.

If your group would like to be in a more urban setting in southern WV, I have two congregations that host groups for me.  One is in Beckley and the other in Charleston.  If you are interested in these areas, I can send you mission contacts (soup kitchens, homeless shelters, etc).
 
Northern WV - When groups come to this part of the state they usually stay at St. Mark Lutheran in Wheeling.  Mission opportunities include nursing homes, soup kitchens, Salvation Army,        Appalachian Outreach (helping in their warehouse), etc.

Central WV - I have not set up groups in this area but I do have several congregations willing to work with me in doing so.  Again, the mission work would probably be more suburban and urban.
 
Eastern Panhandle - This is a large territory and the mission opportunities vary greatly.  In the Shepherdstown, we have groups that work with the homeless population.  In the Franklin, WV area habitat for humanity books groups each summer.  This part of the state is gorgeous and Habitat fills up quickly.  If your group would like to work with habitat in the Franklin, WV area it is suggested that you contact them in early 2011.  They usually charge around $200 per person. 

Western Maryland - I have a congregation in this area (Garrett Co.) who would like to start hosting mission groups.  If you choose this area, we would work with them to develop your experience.

If you would like to support Community Lutheran Partners relief effort, please send donations to: 
CLP, PO Box. 3054, Wheeling, WV 26003.

If you would like to support Community Lutheran Partners relief effort, please send donations to: 
CLP, PO Box. 3054, Wheeling, WV 26003.

For more Appalachian Mission Opportunities, please go to: 
www.wvappalachianmissionopportunities.org.

Gulf Coast Relief Work Opportunities

Please remember this information changes as recovery progresses. 

LOUISIANA

St. Bernard Project
8324 Parc Place
Chalmette, LA 70043
Phone: (504) 277-6831
www.stbernardproject.org
General Inquiries- info@stbernardproject.org
Volunteer Inquiries- volunteer@stbernardproject.org
On the first work day, volunteers participate in orientation at the St. Bernard Project office, learn about the Project, receive volunteer assignments, and get directions to the work site.
You are responsible for your housing and meals. 
Housing is available at Camp Hope 3, 1914 Aycock Street, Arabi, LA 70032
Phone: 504-355-4442, www.stbernardproject.org
Other housing options are listed on the St. Bernard Project web site.


Camp Restore – RAI Ministries (Recovery Assistance, Inc.)
9301 Chef Menteur Highway
New Orleans, LA 70127
Telephone
Toll-Free Phone Number: 1-888-248-2636 (Camp Biloxi and Camp Restore)
504-242-2636 (Camp Restore)
Fax: 504-242-5885 (Camp Restore)
www.raiministries.org
Construction and non-construction opportunities are available for groups.


Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response
Contact: Jessica Vermilyea, State Director, Lutheran Disaster Response,
1717 Tchoupitoulas Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Cell: 504-376-9121
jessica.vermilyea@lsss.org
Volunteers are referred to other partners in the area that continue to house and coordinate. Referral list is available by request.


Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Toll-Free Phone Number 866-732-6121
www.pcusa.org/pda/response/usa/gulfcoast/volunteervillages-index.htm
Three locations are hosting teams, in response to Hurricane Katrina.  They are Houma, Lake Charles and New Orleans.


Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church  
5800 Canal Boulevard
New Orleans, LA 70124
Phone: 504-482-4994
Mailing address: PO Box 791163, New Orleans, LA 70179
info@gracenola.com
Pastor Leon Philpot, Synodically Authorized Minister
lphilpot@cox.net
Grace continues to host and recruit volunteers well into 2010.


Operation Nehemiah
400 N. Rampart Street, 2nd Floor
New Orleans, LA  70112
www.operationnehemiah.com
Fred Franke, Director
504-782-3337
ffranke@operationnehemiah.com, ffranke@cox.net
There are several housing options ranging from a donation of $8 to $45 per person per day or night.
Projects fall in Four Categories:

• Individual & Family Projects - although some of these fall in the category of demolition, most deal with every stage of rebuilding.
• Community Projects - this could be anything to help restore the community.
• Green Projects - this could be tree plantings, wetlands restoration, and more.
• Specialty Projects - work with the elderly, youth, at-risk children and homeless.

MISSISSIPPI

Camp Victor – Futures for Families
1515 Government Street
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Phone: 228-875-0313
Fax: 228-875-7328
www.futuresforfamilies.org
The cost for housing and meals is $25.00 per person per night.
Accepts youth groups in accordance with the camps youth policy between ages 14-17


Moravian Disaster Response – Mississippi Mission
Mississippi Mission House
6809 Oakhurst Drive
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Phone: 336-225-3540
www.moravianmission.org/mdr/ms_mission_house.pdf
Mark Ebert, Director of Volunteer Ministries
mebert@mcsp.org
Mark will provide help in your planning process, including your housing options and offer work coordination through the appropriate agency.
Mississippi Mission House has beds for sleeping 10. Must cook your own meals. A donation of $200 is encouraged to offset utilities.
iaiministries.org


Heritage United Methodist Church
4322 Popps Ferry Road
D’Iberville, MS 39540
Phone: 228-392-4288
Sheila Gillies – 228-861-6039, shegill@juno.com
heritageumc2@cableone.net
www.heritageumc2.org
Housing costs – no charge, donations accepted to help defray expenses
On your own for meal preparation, bring food and cooks/kitchen help.
Minimum age – 15 years and older


Hope Community Development Agency
East Biloxi Coordination Relief & Redevelopment
www.hopecda.org
Contact Brian Rivers, Volunteer Coordinator
425 Division Street
Biloxi, MS 39530
Office: 228-435-7180
Cell: 228-918-0229
brivers@hopecda.org
Housing at Seashore United Methodist Assembly (see below).


Seashore United Methodist Assembly – Housing in Biloxi for Volunteers
1410 Leggett Drive
Biloxi, MS 39530
Phone: 228-436-6767
sumasuma@bellsouth.net
www.seashoreassembly.org


Mississippi United Methodist Disaster Response and Katrina Recovery
To help with Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts in Mississippi
Toll-Free Phone Number: 866-435-7091
www.mississippi-umc.org/pages/detail/763
disastercenter@meridianumc.org
Two camps currently function on the Mississippi Coast.  They are Camp Love, 13183 C John Clark Road, Gulfport and Camp Hope, 13624 Highway 57, Vancleave.
Each of the camps requires a $15.00 donation per day per person to operate the camp.  This figure includes lodging costs and food.


Mission on the Bay – Futures for Families
647 DeMontluzin St.
Bay St. Louis, MS 39520
Phone: 228-466-2900
Fax: 228-466-2999
www.futuresforfamilies.org
The cost for housing and meals is $25.00 per person per night.
Accepts youth groups in accordance with the camps youth policy between ages 14-17


Rebuild Lakeshore, a ministry of Lakeshore Baptist Church
Lakeshore Baptist Church Mailing address:
P O Box 293
Lakeshore, MS 39558
Lakeshore Baptist Church Street address:
6028 Lakeshore Road
Bay St. Louis, MS 39520 (west of Bay St. Louis and Waveland)
Phone: 228-469-0110
www.lakeshorebaptist.net
Pastor: Don A. Elbourne Jr.
Cell phone: 228-671-6315
elbourne@lakeshorebaptist.net
Housing costs – no charge, donations accepted to help defray expenses
No age restrictions.


Hancock Housing Resource Center
www.hancockhrc.org
Contact Rick Shepler, Construction Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator
Office Phone:  228-463-8887
Wk. Cell: 228-344-8129
Cell: 228-365-5588
rsheplersr@gmail.com