OnSite Relief Blog - Volunteer in New Orleans

The homeless population in New Orleans has drastically increased since Hurricane Katrina. One are of the city where this crisis is visibly noticeable is under the I-10 over pass at Canal and Claiborne just north of the French Quarter. It is estimated that anywhere from 200-250 people are living there in tents and simply sleeping on  the ground. Mayor Ray Nagin was just on the local news tonight discussing this issue and stated that the tent city will be shut down following Mardi Gras next week.

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On the afternoon of Sunday, January 27th we walked in the annual Barkus parade through the French Quarter with ARNO (Animal Rescue of New Orleans). The parade started at Armstrong Park and went by Jackson Square. Charlie was lucky enough to walk in the parade this year instead of being a bystander like he was in 2007. In addition to walking Charlie we threw tennis balls and milk bones into the crowd.

All of the dogs in the parade as well as dogs who showed up to watch all dressed up in costume.

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If you were unsure of the current state of New Orleans then make sure to watch this short video. This house just doors down from the office of Lower Nine on El Dorado has not yet even been gutted. Furniture remains over turned and covered in mold, debris covers the floors and pieces of the fallen ceiling clutter each room.

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Friday and Saturday, January 24th and 25th we put a week of hard work behind us and hit the town. We managed to catch the only parade Krewe, Oshun, that rolled in the rain Friday night and had a blast.

Below: we warmed up and got dry at Superior Grill after the parade.

Saturday we caught the Pontchartrain and Shangri-La parades and then took a walk down Bourbon St.

Below: we came across a number of street performers who were “statues”.

We came home with some great catches.

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Justin speaks with Danita who owns a home at the corner of Chartres and Delery. Our volunteers spent many days sheet rocking her home. After Hurricane Katrina Danita and her family drove to Alabama where she then spent the next 2 years.

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Thursday and Friday January 24th and 25th OnSite volunteers got to sheet rocking at Danita’s house on the corner of Chartres and Delery in the Lower 9th Ward.

Below Emma and Nick level and screw in some sheet rock.

Nick and Madison cut out an outlet hole.

Brennan, Sarah and Emma put up a piece of sheet rock.

Brennan holds it still while Sarah screws in the sheet rock.

A room near half way done.

Making some progress.

Adelaida taking a break in the new tub.

Adelaida helps Darren with installing the new door hardware.

Johnathon measures out some sheet rock.

What a team!

Johnathon cutting out an outlet hole.

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 Just about every week OnSite volunteers take a day off of rebuilding and help out at ARNO (Animal Rescue of New Orleans). The volunteers love the experience but also leave feeling a bit sad due to the dozens of great, lovable cats and dogs they have to leave behind. For more information on ARNO please visit their website at http://animalrescueneworleans.org/ 

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OnSite volunteers look forward to helping out at the Animal Rescue of New Orleans, otherwise known as ARNO. They also feel a sadness as there are so many great animals who were abandoned after Hurricane Katrina (or born in the following years to these abandoned animals) who need “forever homes”. This is a video taken at ARNO of the dogs who live there who are looking for new families. For information on pets awaiting adoption and for photos please visit ARNO’s website at http://animalrescueneworleans.org/adoptions.html

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From time to time OnSite Relief brings their volunteers to help out at Animal Rescue of New Orleans, otherwise known as ARNO. The shelter was started in October 2005 a few months following Hurricane Katrina to save the pets abandoned after the storm. In their first few months ARNO rescued over 6,000 dogs and cats. They still have dozens of animals that need “forever homes”. Please check out their website at http://animalrescueneworleans.org/adoptions.html for photos and details on adoption.

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Wednesday, January 23rd we took our volunteers on a free history tour of the French Quarter. Our tour guide was Lloyd and he showed us Jackson square, a number of historical and celebrity homes and taught us some history of the city as well.

A great shot of Jackson Square.

Some sculptures outside of Cafe Du Monde.

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