Since March 2006, over 15,000 volunteers have served with HandsOn New Orleans. Without the tireless dedication of these volunteers, and the thousands of others who have volunteered with organizations across the city, our community would not be where it is today. HandsOn New Orleans would like to thank all of the volunteers who have served with us for their dedication and generosity!
Volunteer Spotlight: Kelly
The Volunteer Leader Program makes up the foundation of HandsOn's activities in the community. Volunteer Leaders receive training in project planning and leadership and are then ready to spearhead their own service projects. HandsOn will either match a Volunteer Leader with a nonprofit in the community in need of support, or Volunteer Leaders can create their own projects, which HandsOn will support with tools and volunteers.
We want to take the time to recognize the efforts of a very active volunteer, Kelly.
Name: Kelly Nooning
Age: 28
Occupation: Public Health Graduate Student
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Why did you want to come down to New Orleans? Tulane is a great school, New Orleans has a rich culture and history and by living here I get to be a part of the rebirth of this great city.
Why are you interested in service? I’ve volunteered for as long as I’ve been able to. I grew up seeing my grandmother volunteer all the time and I’ve always placed a great value on it. Helping other people and your community is extremely satisfying.
What's your favorite part about volunteering? I love meeting lots of interesting people.
What is your best memory from the time you've spent volunteering? Finishing a big project is always great, a nice thrill that something is done. At least until you’ve paused long enough to notice your muscles atrophying, it’s great. I also love working with little kids, they are always so excited with whatever they are doing. Seeing how kids take on things is a great reminder to not take things too seriously in our own lives.
What issues are you most passionate about/what changes would you like to help achieve in New Orleans? I think everyone has a right to live in a healthy environment, from their home to the streets, stores, schools and parks. I hope to help contribute to making that a possibility for more people here in New Orleans.
At what projects have you volunteered through HandsOn? Some mold removal projects, which are definitely the most intensive. I also volunteer at other opportunities as they come up.
Any other thoughts? Everyone can always pitch in and help out. Check the calendar often, or better yet make it your homepage and see what’s coming up that you can do.
Volunteer Spotlight Archives
"I learn something new every time. But ultimately it’s about a human connection – working together with other volunteers, talking with a homeowner, visiting with neighbors – that’s the good stuff!"
Age: 24
Occupation: Program Operations Manager, teachNOLA
Why did you want to come down to New Orleans? This city has a magic sort of gravity; when it pulls, you can’t resist. And who would want to? After being away for several years, I moved back this summer, eager to reconnect with family and join the growing corps of people dedicated to giving the city new life.
New Orleans is obviously at a special moment in its history. To be here now, in the midst of this messy, mad rebirth, is a challenge, a pleasure, and an inspiration, all at once.
Why are you interested in service? I grew up with so many privileges: loving parents, excellent schools, caring mentors, and a safe neighborhood. It’s important to me to make the most of those privileges. That would be impossible without a commitment to service.
Growing up in an environment like I did, it’s easy to insulate oneself and lose sight of the bigger picture of the community (city, state, country) you live in. Your life can almost freeze in place and you end up missing out on so much of the drama – both good and bad – that comprises the real story of the city. Service is a way for me to scrub off some of my ignorance, to get a better sense of where I fit into the community, and hopefully, to contribute in a meaningful way to moving the community forward.
I guess I could say that, as a young person, service has helped me grow up. But it also helps me grow down. Rather than being rooted in one spot, I can share and derive new strength from a variety of people and places across the city. I can have those sprawling live oak roots instead of the rigid, up-and-down kind.
What's your favorite part about volunteering?
It’s really gratifying to take a small step toward setting things right that have been knocked crooked. I learn something new every time. But ultimately it’s about a human connection – working together with other volunteers, talking with a homeowner, visiting with neighbors – that’s the good stuff! After a while, you’ve shared rich experiences in every neighborhood, and the city opens up like an album of memories. Corny, but true.
What is your best memory from the time you've spent volunteering?
So many good memories! Two come to mind immediately:
This year at the Rebuild-a-thon on the anniversary of Katrina, I had the chance to reconnect with Hamilton Simons-Jones, who got me started as a volunteer in New Orleans when we were both at Tulane some years ago. That same day, I teamed up with a Haitian American family to stain a fence and build planters at the new Operation Reach headquarters. Speaking French on the bus, swinging a hammer in the yard, and then dancing in Armstrong Park while the horns squealed – it was one of those can’t-make-this-up kind of New Orleans days.
My other favorite memory is more of a collage of all the times I’ve chipped in at the New Orleans Mission with Chef Loretta. She is an inspiration. A spitfire with a spatula. Her sense of humor and her commitment to service make for a memorable experience. And her lemon pepper chicken is tops.
What issues are you most passionate about / what changes would you like to help achieve in New Orleans.
I believe that education and environmental stewardship are the two most pressing issues in our city and region.
Every single one of our kids deserves a world-class education. I think the progress we’ve made toward that goal is inspiring. We can’t stop. I want New Orleans to be a model that the rest of the country can follow.
Environmental concerns are more urgent here than perhaps anywhere else in the country. We have some of the most beautiful land, water – and people! – to protect, and some of the most destructive threats to defend ourselves against. We all have to come together to provide for a beautiful and healthy city and state in the years to come.
Excellent education and a sustainable city are very big goals. Envisioning a New Orleans where we’ve achieved both is very exciting, but I’m also looking forward to the steps along the way: tutoring kids after school, building bike racks, empowering fenceline communities, tending gardens. To make these big goals a reality, we have to strengthen the weave of the human fabric in this city, and these tasks are like new threads that we can sew into it every day.
What projects have you volunteered at through HandsOn?
The project calendar makes it easy to pick new ones every week. In the past few months I’ve had the chance to
-Paint windows and clear a lot with the Green Corps at Dwayne’s house in Central City
-Prepare and serve meals with Chef Loretta at the New Orleans Mission
-Help the Americorps all-stars put a roof and siding on Ms. Kern’s place near the river
-Do some painting and light construction at the headquarters of Operation Reach uptown and Odyssey House in Treme
-Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient CFL’s in Mid-City for Green Light New Orleans.
-Mulch beds and lay a brick garden path at the Sun Harvest Garden on OC Haley Blvd.
-Last summer, I joined a huge crew from Ohio and several other states to re-sod the baseball field out at Carver High in Gentilly. Plentiful sunburn and good times.
Any other thoughts? If you’re thinking about volunteering, my advice is pick up the phone, click on the calendar and jump in! Getting started is easy, and once you’ve made that first step, you’ll have lots of guidance (and more courage) for helping out in the future.
I’ve found that volunteering is one of the best ways to renew your relationship with the people and the places that make New Orleans so special. I think that’s true whether you’re new to the city or have been here all of your life. Don’t miss out!
"Giving your time goes a long way! It’s also very rewarding for me because I know I’m making a difference in my community." -Nicole
Where else have you lived besides New Orleans? I spent eight years in Atlanta and two in Birmingham before moving back to New Orleans
How did you hear about HandsOn New Orleans? I volunteered with HandsOn Atlanta while I lived in Atlanta. I heard there were other HandsOn networks and did an internet search.
What community services have you done in the past? I have volunteered with my church in Atlanta, HandsOn Atlanta, Habitat for Humanity, Hosea Feed the Hungry in Atlanta, and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. While in college, I volunteered with the Louisiana Children’s Museum and Children’s Hospital.
In what ways have you volunteered or worked with HandsOn New Orleans? I volunteer with the Early Literacy Field Trips at the Louisiana Children’s Museum.
Do you think you can make differences in people lives by helping out?
Definitely! Giving your time goes a long way! It’s also very rewarding for me because I know I’m making a difference in my community.
What is your favorite part of volunteering? Meeting people and learning new things.
"Everyday is memorable to me because each day has a new hurdle, and at the end of the day I get such a sense of accomplishment."
Name: Loretta Kimmick
Occupation: I have been a Chef for the past 17 years.
Hometown: I was born in Cuba and came to the US when I was 6 years old. I was raised in South Florida.
Why did you want to come down to New Orleans? I moved here from Tucson, AZ with my husband who was suppose to have a job waiting here. When we got here his job was not waiting. We didn't have the money to go home, but I had faith that God would provide.
Why are you interested in service? I have found that doing things for those who cannot do for themselves is so rewarding.
What's your favorite part about volunteering? I enjoy being a part of people's lives, and hopefully I can make a difference.
What is your best memory from the time you've spent volunteering? Everyday is memorable to me because each day has a new hurdle and at the end of the day I get such a sense of accomplishment.
What issues are you most passionate about / what changes would you like to help achieve in New Orleans.
I want to make a difference in the homeless population.
What projects have you volunteered at through HandsOn?
Latino Farmer's Co-Op Garden
Save Our Schools for NOLA
Global Youth Service Day
HandsOn New Orleans Day 2009.
I have also volunteered with a couple of organizations because of people I have met at the HandsOn sites. HandsOn is a great place to meet people and learn a lot.
Do you have a favorite service project that you've volunteered at?
I thoroughly enjoy cooking at the New Orleans Mission. I have been here for 6 months now and have met some really good people. I have a new project that I am blessed to be a part of now with the Latino Farmer's Co-Op Garden. Seems like gardening and cooking kinda go hand in hand.
Any other thoughts? I cannot think of anything I would rather do than to serve my fellow man. I give every project my best because I believe the Lord has led me to this life of service so therefore I do it unto him. Thank you for this opportunity to share my joy with everyone.
"My motto is one nail at a time, one house at a time, 1% at a time. That's how this city is going to be rebuilt."
The Spring of 2009 has been a great season for skilled volunteers at HandsOn New Orleans! Skilled volunteers are an important component of our programs because they bring trade experience or business skills to volunteer projects, which enables us to take on projects that might otherwise need a contractor.
This month, we wanted to take the time to recognize the efforts of one of our most recent long-term, skilled volunteers, Jim.
Name: Jim
Age: 44
Occupation: Carpenter
Hometown: Brooksville, WI
Why did you want to come down to New Orleans? I've always wanted to come down and be a part of the recovery efforts. When I saw Katrina hit and saw how badly people were hurting, and I wanted to be able to help out in some way. I have some skills that I knew would be useful to the rebuilding efforts, and I wanted to use them. I orginially thought I'd be down here for a month, but there's so much more to do here than I envisioned. Now I have committed to be here for 3 or more months.
Why are you interested in service? I've gotten many gifts in my life, and I would like to give back in return.
What's your favorite part about volunteering? I love the feeling of accomplishment that you get when you help someone. The way that people express their gratitude around here is amazing.
What is your best memory from the time you've spent volunteering? The best moment so far has been seeing the look on Ms. Evelyn's face when she stepped into her house and saw the new trim that we had finished putting up. It was a consistent expression of gratitude.
What issues are you most passionate about / what changes would you like to help achieve in New Orleans.
My motto is one nail at a time, one house at a time, 1% at a time. That's how this city is going to be rebuilt.
What projects have you volunteered at through HandsOn? I've worked on Ms. Evelyn's house and Ms. McCormick's house. I've also worked with Bayou Grace to help rebuild Chauvin.
Any other thoughts? There's a lot of work that still needs to be done in New Orleans. A lot has been accomplished here, but we can still use all the help we can get, skilled or unskilled.
"After Hurricane Katrina, so many of us received help. We wanted to be able to help someone because you never know when you are going to need it."
-Ms. McKenzie's sixth grade class from Wicker Elementary School
We want to give a big shout out and thank you to Ms. McKenzie's sixth grade class at Wicker Elementary for their amazing performance during our Martin Luther King Week of Service Food Drive by raising 1031 lbs of food for Second Harvest Food Bank! Way to go Wicker!
Name: Ms. McKenzie's class at Wicker Elementary School
Age: Sixth grade
Occupation: Students
Why did you want to participate in the food drive? We wanted to help children that were in need because no child should go hungry at night.
What was the best part of the food drive? The best part was knowing that we were helping someone.
What was the hardest part of the food drive? It wasn't hard at all. We all enjoyed it a lot because we were helping people.
Why do you think that it's important to get involved and help people? After Hurricane Katrina, so many of us received help. We wanted to be able to help someone else because you never know when you are going to need it.
What issues are you most passionate about / what changes would you like to help achieve in New Orleans.
We think the biggest problems facing New Orleans are homelessness, the lack of jobs, crime, and the education system. We would like to help fix these issues.
"My favorite part of volunteering is that it reminds me of the positive programs and the productive people that are already making a difference in the community."
Name: Jenny Carleton
Age: 28
Occupation: Hotel Housekeeper
Hometown: Metairie, LA
Why are you interested in service? I am interested in service because I am living in the community and feel responsible to help the city of New Orleans be a more positive place to live. I think volunteering your time to a service project is just as valuable as giving a cash donation.
What's your favorite part about volunteering with HandsOn New Orleans? My favorite part of volunteering is that it reminds me of the positive programs and the productive people that are already making a difference in the community. I also enjoy learning new skills from service projects. One of my favorite things about the Hands On New Orleans website is the monthly volunteer calendar which allows you to sign up to volunteer any day of the week. No excuses not to volunteer people of New Orleans!!!
What issues are you passionate about / what changes would you like to help achieve in New Orleans? I am passionate about having a cleaner more bike and pedestrian friendly city. I would also like to see more locals take pride in their city by volunteering.
Do you have a favorite service project that you've volunteered at and why did you enjoy this project?
One of my favorite projects was at the Edible Schoolyard. I was instantly impressed how organized the project was. I was amazed that the teachers and their students at the school were leading volunteers with gardening projects on a Saturday morning.
Check out some of the awesome projects Andy has served at...
Sorting pajamas and books with the Pajama Program
Planting vegetables and clearing weeds with the Mid City Community Garden
Creating a garden with the Edible Schoolyard
....and many more!
"I think that service is where the community starts. You have to build it from the bottom up and the only way to do that is by volunteering your time to make things better."
Name: Andy Zellinger
Age: 19
Occupation: Student at Tulane University
Hometown: Tampa, FL
Why did you decide to go to school in New Orleans: My dad went to Tulane, but I really wanted to come to New Orleans in order to be part of the recovery efforts.
Why are you interested in service? I think that service is where the community starts. You have to build it from the bottom up and the only way to do that is by volunteering your time to make things better.
What's your favorite part about volunteering with HandsOn New Orleans? I like coming out to service projects with my friends and getting them more involved in the community. A lot of times I'll guilt them into coming with me to volunteer by telling them all about how I am going to volunteer while they are planning on sleeping in. That usually gets them to come out with me, but if it doesn't then I will sometimes just sign them up on the project calendar without asking them.
So what motivates you to get up early on a Saturday to serve? New Orleans has a lot of problems, and if you ignore them then they will just get worse. I don't want to be one of those people. I have a lot of free time since I am in college, so I figured I would use that time in a productive way.
Check out some of the awesome projects Andy has served at...
Creating benches, planter boxes, and ground murals in celebration of Martin Luther King Day at Wicker Elementary School
Restoring a historic home in Central City with HandsOn
Serving meals to the homeless with New Orleans' Mission
Training to be a Volunteer Leader with HandsOn
....and many more!
"I gained more than I ever thought I could have gained from my projects during disaster, but I lost a little too. Every place we went, every expatriated person that I encountered, a piece of my heart was left behind with them. Sooner or later it felt as though this is what I wanted to do, and I was finding myself wishing that my ten months would never be up."
I never thought that skipping out on college would get me so far in life. I can’t say that I never fully went to college (I did the one and 2/3 a semester deal… for the experience), but books never left me feeling accomplished. I left high school knowing what I wanted to do- travel, meet people, and do myself some good while serving others. When you grow up in a small town, pretty much your options after high school are limited to going to college or working at the local ExxonMobil for an average $8.25 an hour. I didn’t see either of those in my near future, so I waitressed for a little at a hometown diner while I contemplated just how in fact I was going to get out and be who I wanted to be.
I remember when I found out about AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps and how a wave of relief came over my body. Finally, something that would serve my needs while I could serve others, this is wonderful! The application process was painstaking, it almost had me feeling as if I were back in my high school guidance counselors office. But once that acceptance letter came, it was pure bliss. I was going to be living in CALIFORNIA. I would be traveling- road tripping nonetheless. And, all of it was covered, and I got a little money here and there. We worked in the fields of education, unmet human needs, environment and public safety. I don’t think that I could have anticipated just how important and dominating disaster relief was going to be during my ten-month adventure.
The program started in September, so our parents knew where we were going to be serving (the Gulf Coast). But, nobody really gave us the heads up for what was coming our way. I mean, they told us there was going to be devastation, people were going to be needy and hurt and tired and just looking for answers, but they didn’t give us the whole story. They didn’t warn us about how generous, open-hearted, selfless and caring more than half the people we were about to encounter were going to be. They didn’t warn us that when we went to these devastated places and met these people so abruptly displaced, we were going to want to take our mattresses and cots and shirts off of our back and hand them over.
I gained more than I ever thought I could have gained from my projects during disaster, but I lost a little too. Every place we went, every expatriated person that I encountered, a piece of my heart was left behind with them. Sooner or later it felt as though this is what I wanted to do, and I was finding myself wishing that my ten months would never be up.
We traveled other places that year, Phoenix, AZ and Winnemucca, NV then did some work back on base in California (I remember how excited I was that I was going to be living there, now all I wanted to do was locate myself back down south.) But we got some news, which to me was good, during Thanksgiving dinner. Our director, Mr. Keith Caudle, told us that for the rest of our time spent in the Corps (this would be from November to July when we would then graduate) we would be “somewhere” in the Gulf doing “something” pertaining to disaster relief. Whatever. Sounded good enough for me!
The teams packed their bags and we were off. We found ourselves in Louisiana, and it just went uphill from there. We worked with a few other AmeriCorps teams while stationed in Cameron, LA mostly doing debris removal, and we worked with Habitat for Humanity in Baton Rouge. All this time, we were pulling apart and then we were rebuilding, and we saw everything full circle. But time was also getting short, we had just over a month left in the program when our project in Baton Rouge came to an end and we were told that we were going to be working in New Orleans for our final stint.
When we arrived at HandsOn we knew, just from the “Hello!”s that things were going to be good. Another team was here, and they made us cookies, they were good in our book straight off. We were allotted the next day off so that we could rest, and then we would start work on Monday. The day I stepped foot in that office and started answering phones and communicating with people, community members, volunteers, and staff alike, I knew that this project was going to go by too quickly. My team, the on that at one point couldn’t stand to eat dinner at the same table as each other, was now willingly working hand in hand. We, as a team, felt appreciated, something that had been missing from any other project we had been on. We were now not just a family of 11 but a family of (up to) 80.
When time came to say goodbye to New Orleans and HandsOn that was probably the most difficult thing I had ever had to do in my AmeriCorps life. But that is why I came back. I graduated AmeriCorps on July 13th, and on July 20th I found myself back in New Orleans. The staff has become my family, and I love the work we do, as a family. The volunteers that come in and out of here are unlike any other people I have ever encountered. My experience here has been amazing, and I know that my future at HandsOn New Orleans is going to bring me nothing but positive outcomes.
Name: Kelly Nooning
"I learn something new every time. But ultimately it’s about a human connection – working together with other volunteers, talking with a homeowner, visiting with neighbors – that’s the good stuff!"
"Giving your time goes a long way! It’s also very rewarding for me because I know I’m making a difference in my community."
"Everyday is memorable to me because each day has a new hurdle, and at the end of the day I get such a sense of accomplishment."
"After Hurricane Katrina, so many of us received help. We wanted to be able to help someone because you never know when you are going to need it."
"My favorite part of volunteering is that it reminds me of the positive programs and the productive people that are already making a difference in the community."
"I think that service is where the community starts. You have to build it from the bottom up and the only way to do that is by volunteering your time to make things better."
"I gained more than I ever thought I could have gained from my projects during disaster, but I lost a little too. Every place we went, every expatriated person that I encountered, a piece of my heart was left behind with them. Sooner or later it felt as though this is what I wanted to do, and I was finding myself wishing that my ten months would never be up."
