Project poster (PDF)

United States

Central States

Hurricane Katrina

Along the United States Gulf Coast, MCC is continuing work in hurricane-devastated areas and communities that received evacuees.

As part of that effort, MCC supports the Urban Missions Foundation, a new initiative aimed at giving African-American and Latino churches and youth a vehicle for volunteering in Katrina-devastated areas of New Orleans.

The project was established to connect youth from African-American and Latino churches throughout the United States with church communities in New Orleans. Youth groups have come to the city for a week to gut houses and clean debris.

"I remember one group, a group from Chicago, came in the afternoon and went on a tour of the city," says Irvin Bell, a New Orleans coordinator for the project. "It was getting dark and they wanted to get started right away. They didn’t even want to unpack. I just thought that was amazing to see young people with so much enthusiasm toward rebuilding."

Many churches lost members who never moved back. Those who remain welcome the young groups who come to volunteer. "The groups bring an energy and excitement that we definitely need down here," Bell says.

If contributions to a project exceed the amount needed, MCC will use the donations to support similar projects.