Commonly Asked Questions

I don’t have building experience. How can I help?

Volunteers do many things, from rebuilding to gardening, helping care for stray animals, clean-up of debris, de-molding and much more. Building experience, of course, is always welcome, but not necessary. Less skilled volunteers willing to help with rebuilding can learn to tape and “mud” drywall, sand, and paint, for example. These are skills which will not require extensive training.

We will soon offer volunteers the opportunity to do what they do best for folks on the Gulf Coast. In other words, volunteers with expertise in needed areas, such as legal advocacy, accounting, architecture, or computer engineering, will soon be able to help out, too, with the skills they’ve been trained to use.

How does Gulf Coast Works handle travel arrangements?

Everyone at GCW, including the staff, is voluntary. As a result, we all purchase our own plane tickets, as well as pay for our own food and lodging. However, we are well versed in finding inexpensive flights, and have already previewed clean, inexpensive places to stay, as well as good options for meals. Once you sign up for a trip, we will help you (and your group) with all the information you need to get to and move around on the Gulf Coast.

Once I’m down there, who do I talk to? How do I get around?

GCW projects are all done in partnership with other groups along the Gulf Coast, such as Camp Coastal and NENA in New Orleans. Our contacts in these areas will be available to help people know where to go and what to do. Someone from GCW is typically onsite, or at least available by phone. For rebuilding projects and work trips, a group van is provided for getting people to and from the work site.

I’ve already been down to work. How do I write something for the blog? Can I submit photos to the gallery?

To add your thoughts about a recent work trip to our blog, please contact us at info@gulfcoastworks.org.