Here are a few important basics about how GCW
helps make your work trip happen:

Gulf Coast Works provides organizational support to our volunteers to help them plan their trip and arrange for accommodations and meaningful work at the selected destination.
Sometimes, GCW has a start to finish homebuilding project, where you might work. See completed home projects here. Other times you might be on a crew working with our partners like St Bernard Project. See upcoming projects with partners here. The range of possible projects varies greatly over time in varying communities, but volunteers are the lifeblood of the recovery effort, so no matter what you do, it will have significant and important value to those you serve. A team may be spit between multiple houses depending on needs, skills, and the size of the team.

All volunteers are responsible for the cost of airfare and local transportation, including getting themselves from their arrival airportto their host’s facility. But because this is a team effort, rental car sharing is often possible, either with fellow first time volunteers, or in vehicles that GCW might be renting at the time. A donation for gas money or some sort of pro-rated share of the vehicle expense is customary and appreciated. Groups of three or more arriving together are requested to actually rent a vehicle for the duration of their stay. Other than that, the out of pocket expenses are limited by what you can resist (restaurants in New Orleans are definitely an indulgence worthy of submission).
Except in certain specific cases, we regret that Gulf Coast Works cannot provide financial assistance for travel expenses...the money we raise in donations is used to directly benefit the victims of this national tragedy. If you cannot afford to pay for travel, please email us at info@gulfcoastworks.org with details of your situation and we'll let you know if we can help.

AIRFARE

Airfare can be quite reasonable if you plan well. Of course, it does depend on when you are traveling (school vacation weeks can be more expensive), where you're originating from, where you land, and how far in advance you purchase, so please try to plan your travel sooner rather than later. Click here to see the airlines flying into New Orleans (MSY), which is about a 30 minute drive to town. Gulfport (GPT) is the airport of choice for most Mississippi destinations.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We have often seen airfares fluctuate up and down for a given date, so if you think you've lost that cheap flight you had your eye on, waiting a few days might see it go back down. Unfortunately, flying on weekends does not always end up being the cheapest, so play around with flight days to see what kind of fares come up. We can help you try to locate good travel deals...just ask and we'll check our favorite resources for you.

PLEASE GET US YOUR FLIGHT ITINERARY AS SOON AS IT'S BOOKED...WE CANNOT RESERVE A SPACE FOR YOU AT ANY OF OUR HOST ORGANIZATIONS WITHOUT THIS CONFIRMATION.

Accommodations

We realize the hardiness of our volunteers varying when it comes to sleeping conditions. In 2010, the accommodations for Metro NOLA and Gulf Coast are far better than when we started in 2005. This year we will experiment and try to find two locations for our teams:

  • The first being a dormitory in nature - with most if not all meals included.
  • The second being more on the lines of low cost bead and breakfast.

    • We strongly encourage people to stay together at one of these two locations to build a sense community and to make transportation to the site work.

    For a "dormitory", the daily fee in the $25 or under range. Newly reopened Camp Hope is typical of this type of housing. The room and board provided is simple, functional and comfortable-enough, if you don't mind roughing it a bit. Some facilities have an open warehouse-like building with a communal eating and hanging out area and a perimeter space that has bunk beds for sleeping. Others have pre-fab bunk houses that sleep 8 to 12, with a communal space central to all. The bottom line is, what you give up in privacy and creature comforts, you more than make up for by being part of an incredibly uplifting, grassroots community that runs almost entirely on good will and the spirit of giving. There are usually hot water showers, often a few communal computers to check email, and scores of outlets to recharge your cell phone. Everyone works together to make it work, and it usually works surprisingly well. Security is generally very good, but we do suggest you leave your valuable cameras and laptops at home. Bringing a cellphone is strongly advised, and point & shoot digital cameras can be carried easily enough during the day. If you absolutely need your laptop to keep in touch with the office, there is likely to be wireless internet (just ask and we'll find out for you), but just to be clear, there are no ironclad guarantees against theft. FYI, we often bring laptops and lock them in the rental car trunk during the day.

    For a "dormitory" you should typically plan on bringing a sleeping bag, a pillow, a towel, comfortable work clothes (long pants, at least one or two long-sleeved shirts, and t-shirts to get dirty!), and a good pair of work or hiking boots (btw, it's also a good idea to be up to date on your tetanus shot, but that's the only medical recommendation....no other vaccines or precautions are needed). There are usually hot water showers, often a few communal computers to check email, and scores of outlets to recharge your cell phone. Everyone works together to make it work, and it usually works incredibly well. Security is generally very good, but we do suggest you leave your valuables (cameras, laptops) at home. If you absolutely need your laptop (and who doesn't) there might be wireless internet (just ask and we’ll find out for you). Just to be clear, there are no ironclad guarantees about security, but people are generally and predictably very respectful.

    FOOD!

    Breakfasts, do it yourself box Lunches and dinners are usually provided by the "dormitory housing site". Give that, lunch is often purchased at an eatery in the neighborhood you’re working in. Dinner out at a restaurant is often a great way to end the work day, enjoy the regional culture, and support the local economy, all at the same time. We try to arrive at group decisions, that account for everyone budget and gastronomic preferences.

    In Conclusion

    Organizing these work trips takes a number of people sharing different responsibilities. There are logistics issues, work- site management issues, supply-chain issues, etc. Right now, you are at the start of the volunteering process, and we ask that you follow up with us with any questions you may have. We can then proceed efficiently and effectively to make the most of your time and ours. Thanks again for your interest in our project, and we really look forward to working side-by-side with you helping the people of the Gulf Coast.

    "Sounds great", you say? Here's how to begin the process of volunteering...

    Simply fill out our online volunteer form here , which will tell us your availability and some other important information (like how to contact you). Our Volunteer Coordinator will get back to you as soon as possible about current opportunities.