New Orleans is a hopping city full of good food, music, and rich culture located on the Mississippi River. The birthplace of jazz, it is a melting pot of French, African, and American cultures.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina swept through New Orleans, striking a devastating blow to the livelihood of every resident. Nearly 80% of the city flooded, leaving a trail of destruction. Overnight, thousands of people became homeless and unemployed.
The nation rallied around relief efforts in the early days following the hurricane, but slowly national attention shifted further away from those whose lives were destroyed.
Residents of New Orleans feel discarded, left only with their loneliness and depression.
It takes far more than bricks and lumber to rebuild a devastated city. Your youth group can help rebuild lives and restore hope to New Orleans.
Ministry:
- Homeless Feeding and Ministry: New Orleans has a high homeless population in different pockets of the city. Your group will serve and engage with them through food servings and water distribution. This is a great way to hear people’s stories, learn from them, and offer encouragement when possible.
- Rehabilitation Facility: Assist individuals in their daily responsibilities at a rehab center. Those who work and live at the center are recovering from a former addiction. You’ll assist either in facility projects (maintenance, painting, etc.) or alongside individuals at the thrift store in their daily job duties.
- Katrina Relief: Even a decade after the hurricane, there are still areas of the city needing repair. People are displaced, still trying to start a new life. You’ll have the opportunity to help restore their homes while touching their lives.
- Urban Plunge: This is a great chance to get to know the city and the different groups of people that are there. You’ll jump on the trolleys and head into the city. While on the trolley you’ll have chance to start conversations with people. You’ll then jump off and spend some time in downtown NOLA, meeting people there and learning new stories. This trip is a great blend of meeting people and experiencing the city.
If you walk the streets of New Orleans with your prayer team, you may meet people who feel overwhelmed and abandoned. You’ll connect with these people’s pain as you listen to them share their stories. You can show them that God is faithful even through the most impossible tragedies.
The people of New Orleans are still suffering from Katrina’s wrath. Will you come help them rebuild their lives?
_____________________________________________________________
Interested in reading more stories about what Adventures is doing in New Orleans? Click here to visit our blog and see the impact.
