Frequently Asked Questions About Volunteering

1. What is SMHA doing about hurricane recovery?
2. What kind of volunteers does SMHA need?
3. What is the work?
4. Where do volunteers stay?
5. How do I get there?
6. How much money should I plan on spending?
7. What's the weather like?
8. What should I bring?
9. Can I stay in touch with home?
10. It sounds like what I'm looking for! How do I volunteer?

1. What is SMHA doing about hurricane recovery?

We partner with families to help them rebuild their homes – and their lives. You will be another partner in the process. Your presence and assistance are invaluable in helping people mobilize their strengths and look to the future with hope. Every house we rebuild helps to rebuild the community.

2. What kind of volunteers does SMHA need?

Unskilled and skilled physical labor in the field as well as people with nonphysical skills. (See #3 below.) Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by parents or by other adults responsible for supervising them. All volunteers must be willing to take safety seriously and must understand that they can't expect "all the comforts of home" while they are here. Coming as part of a group makes a lot of sense, although we are often able to connect individual volunteers to a group that will be here at the same time.

3. What is the work?

Most volunteers contribute to the physical labor of helping the family salvage anything salvageable (usually not much), gutting the water-damaged house, eliminating illness-causing mold, and preparing the structure for the rebuilding crew. It's a daunting experience for the family, and an all-important first step on their road to recovery.

Volunteers with construction experience and skills, including cost estimating, are invaluable for the later stages of restoring a house to pre-hurricane condition.

NOTE: For working in houses, we strongly recommend getting a tetanus shot. The work is not dangerous, but tearing a house apart means nails. Better safe than sorry.

Other volunteers interview families and write their stories, conduct follow-ups, and do data entry, telephone assessments and a variety of other nonphysical tasks. The VOLUNTEER PROFILE (click here for online form OR click here for printable / mailable /faxable form) you’ll be submitting before you arrive is how you inform us about your skill level and your interest in contributing in ways other than physical labor.

4. Where do volunteers stay?

Your specific housing arrangements will be settled before you arrive. If you will be in a facility provided by SMHA, there is no cost to you. If you are staying elsewhere, either because of your preference or because SMHA beds are already full, you cover housing costs. SMHA is headquartered in New Iberia, which is central to some of the devastated areas. New Iberia itself escaped most of the storms' fury and has all the usual services and amenities and an intact infrastructure. Depending on your assignment, your housing may be in New Iberia or in one of the 10 other parishes where SMHA works. You may be housed in a church annex with bunk beds, social space, tables and chairs, showers, laundry facilities and an equipped kitchen (you provide the food). Some volunteers arrange to stay in campgrounds or motels.

5. How do I get there?

After you and we have agreed that you are coming and the dates are confirmed, we will inform you where to go: New Iberia or elsewhere. You can fly into Lafayette, Baton Rouge or New Orleans and rent a vehicle at any of these airports. Reserve your rental vehicle in advance. Vans to accommodate a group are especially hard to come by.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO NEW IBERIA (MapQuest)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO JEAN LAFITTE

From the New Orleans airport (about 50 minutes)

6. How much money should I plan on spending?

SMHA covers the lodging costs for volunteers who are staying in our facilities. If that's what you'd like to do, we'll be able to let you know if space will be available once your dates are confirmed. If you stay at a campground or motel, it is at your cost. Wherever you are staying, you'll be paying for food including a packed lunch on workdays. Supermarket prices are comparable to those in other parts of the country, and restaurants range from low end but delicious (dinner $10 or less) to high end (sky's the limit). You’ll find out the cost of your rental vehicle when you reserve it.

7. What's the weather like?

Late fall to early spring is variable. Nights can be chilly, possibly in the 40s, and daytime temperatures can be as high as the 70s. In late spring and summer expect hot and humid conditions.

8. What should I bring?

Work clothes: long pants; light-weight, long-sleeved shirts; t-shirts; hat. Sturdy work boots or rubber boots (not tennis shoes!) are a must, as are heavy cloth or leather work gloves. Regular eyeglasses are OK, but safety goggles are better.

For protection against mold, it is imperative to bring an ample number of N95 masks with respirator. Bring one mask for every one or two work days, since a mask can become too dirty for safety after a day of hard work. You can find N95 masks at most medical supply houses.

Tools/Equipment: SMHA has some tools donated by past volunteers, but please bring your own if you can, as well as spare tools collected from friends or neighbors that you can donate.

Useful tools include:

Crowbars, various sizes (15” narrow crowbars pack easily)
Hammers
Screwdrivers, Phillips and flat, various sizes (especially battery-operated)
Tool belts
Brooms
Shovels (large, long and short-handled digging shovels) for prying up floors
Saws (especially battery-operated)
Exacto knives
Tape measures
Crescent wrenches
Pliers with wire cutters
Dishwashing gloves (for working with mold-treating solutions)

Work-related Toiletries:

Hand sanitizer (enough for frequent use)
Insect repellent and sun block (all seasons)
Ibuprofen, Ben-Gay, etc., for aches and pains from using unaccustomed muscles
Personal first-aid kit

Sheets are available at SMHA facilities provided you launder them before you leave, or you may prefer to bring a sleeping bag or your own bedding and a pillow. Also, bring a towel. If you'll be working in one of the outlying parishes, a sleeping bag is a must. We'll let you know about this before it's time to pack.

You’ll be glad to have a camera to capture the remnants of Katrina's and Rita's fury and "before" and "after" shots to show the effectiveness of your work. We ask that you make your photos available to SMHA.

9. Can I stay in touch with home?

Cell phones work in New Iberia and all surrounding areas. Internet access is available seven days a week at New Iberia's public library.

10. It sounds like what I'm looking for! How do I volunteer?

If you are the contact person for a group or if you want to come as an individual volunteer, complete and submit the "Volunteer Group/Individual Information Form" (click here for online form OR click here for printable mailable/faxable form).

In addition, each individual volunteer coming alone or as a member of a group should complete the "Volunteer Profile Form" (click here for online form OR click here for printable mailable/faxable form).

This enables us to plan work assignments and housing. When we receive the information, you will receive a reply from us.

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