New Orleans volunteers set monthly work record

NEW ORLEANS — Record numbers of Southern Baptist volunteers from across the nation are rebuilding flooded homes in New Orleans as part of the Southern Baptist disaster relief rebuilding effort in the city. In March, volunteers from California to Georgia and as far north as Alaska were part of the most productive month of work in the city so far.

College and high school students on spring break were a large part of the 5,000-plus volunteers working with Operation New Orleans Area Homes (NOAH) Rebuild — a North American Mission Board partnership with the Louisiana Baptist State Convention, New Orleans-area associations and churches and the Salvation Army. Volunteers ranged in age and background. NOAH volunteers hung more than 1,500 sheets of Sheetrock in March and worked on a record number of roofing, electrical and plumbing rough-in jobs, according to Steve Gahagan, NOAH construction manager. The 301 work orders the teams completed represent 116 New Orleans homes, seven churches, two ministry centers and five homes of local pastors.