HDR Teams needs Volunteers for Louisiana

Humanist Disaster Recovery (HDR) Teams is in need of volunteers for our next deployment which is scheduled from May 27 – June 7, 2017, in Denham Springs, LA. Volunteers are not required to remain for the duration of the deployment and are responsible for their own travel to and from the program. Volunteers may begin to arrive on the evening of Friday, May 26th.

In August of 2016, as much as 31 inches of rain fell in and around the Baton Rouge area of Louisiana. In what has been called the worst natural disaster to hit the United States since Superstorm Sandy, 13 people lost their lives, and 8.7 billion dollars in damage was left behind. Flooding occurred in regions that were not considered flood plains and many homeowners did not have flood insurance. These homeowners are in need of volunteer service from nonprofit organizations to recover from the loss of their homes.

Humanist Disaster Recovery (HDR) raised more than $10,000 for our secular beneficiary, All Hands Volunteers (AHV), and will be deploying volunteers to work with AHV in their ongoing rebuilding efforts. No skill is required. Volunteers will be trained task by task and guidance will be available throughout each day. To understand more about the work HDR Teams volunteers engage in, please see the online overview of our Columbia, SC deployment in 2016.

Volunteers have two options for accommodations. A local Baptist church has donated a sleeping space, large common room, kitchen, and bathrooms to AHV and shower trailers, sleeping bags, and mattress pads will be provided to HDR Teams for free. HDR Teams will offer hotel room stays for those in need of another option. Volunteers are encouraged to contribute as they are able for hotel room stays.

Volunteers will be provided with three meals a day, snacks, and water. Vegetarian diets can be accommodated. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Rebecca.

If you are interested in being a part of this humanist endeavor, please fill out this form.