When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf coast in 2005, HandsOn Network made an immediate and serious commitment to address the devastation and support Gulf relief and recovery efforts through targeted volunteer action.  This decision required us to reinvent the unique “Hands On” volunteer service model in an emergency context on short order.  

In September 2005, in dozens of “receptor” cities nationwide, HandsOn Network mobilized thousands of volunteers to help address the needs of large influxes of displaced Gulf coast residents.  Hands On volunteers helped to manage volunteer staffing and coordination for evacuees at the Houston Astrodome and Convention Center, deployed thousands of volunteers to help federal offices and first responders, and mobilized hundreds of volunteer teams and skilled team leaders nationally to support relief efforts, including staffing shelters, developing client services, and repairing homes.  In the ensuing months, we also launched two HandsOn Action Centers to serve the vast needs of communities in crisis in New Orleans and Biloxi. Our focus, then and now, was applying our expertise to leverage the generosity and extraordinary commitment of volunteers eager to help. 

During 2005-2006, HandsOn Network mobilized 6,100 volunteers, organized more than 76,000 unique volunteer opportunities, and generated over 700,000 hours of volunteer service.  These efforts provided an estimated $13 million in economic benefits for Gulf Coast residents whose lives were devastated by the hurricanes.  Much of this value has been generated by providing free volunteer labor (in lieu of scarce and otherwise costly commercial labor) to help residents restore their homes.  HandsOn volunteers, mainly housed at our two volunteer sites, execute projects ranging from physically demanding home reconstruction and mold removal to community revitalization projects, such as rebuilding health clinics, supporting the reopening and ongoing needs of schools, and addressing the special needs of marginalized communities.

Now, 5 years later, Hands On Mississippi (formerly Hands On Gulf Coast) and HandsOn New Orleans remain deeply embedded in both communities, and serve as vital connecting nodes to citizens from throughout the country.   Both sites continue to manage a steady flow of hundreds of volunteers weekly, in partnership with grass-roots and faith-based organizations.  Both Action Centers have earned local credibility and national media recognition - and both are helping to serve as templates for building even broader disaster response capacity across our national network. 

Over the last five years, HandsOn Network has become deeply connected to the citizens of the Gulf region and to long-term disaster recovery work. Just today, The Huffington Post named HandsOn New Orleans one of nine organizations that never left New Orleans. 

 In June 2011, we will hold the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in New Orleans.  HandsOn Network selected New Orleans both to assist with the city's economic recovery and also to create a year-long, focused commitment to meet the ongoing needs of Gulf Coast residents. Join us!