Hands Of Hope

Shrimpers, oystermen, and menhaden harvesters usually fill the waters surrounding lower Plaquemines Parish with bustling activity.  This 90 mile long stretch of land, situated southeast of New Orleans, follows the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico and contains the largest volume fisheries port in Louisiana and third-largest in the nation.  At least, it did before Hurricane Katrina.

Travel the area today, and the quiet is eerie.  In many places it looks and feels as if Katrina struck just last month.  Six percent of the parish’s docks, launches, and marinas are still inaccessible by car; many remain closed.  In addition to destroying or inflicting major damage on 5,179 houses, Katrina’s 30-foot tidal surge beached thousands of boats, both commercial and recreational. 

Though this area of Plaquemines has always been sparsely populated, it serves as an important economic engine for the state and nation.  In addition to its prominence for the US fishing industry, it functions as the base of operations for the state’s offshore oil operations.  One-fifth of the US crude oil supply passes through Louisiana, much of it through here.

After Hurricane Katrina, Hands of Hope was spiritually lead to begin to determine how best to address the immediate and long-term needs of Plaquemines Parish residents.  To date Hands of Hope has worked with more than 130 individuals representing more than 60 organizations comprising 18 local/state faith-based organizations/churches, 10 national faith-based organizations, 20 local/state non-profit organizations, 10 national non-profits, 7 governmental agencies, and several unaffiliated residents.  

In January 2006 Hands of Hope partnered with Covenant World Relief to assist in bringing an organized holistic approach to faith-based efforts in the recovery and restoration process.  Prior to, and since that time, Hands of Hope has been actively involved on several fronts in the parish. 

What Does The Future Hold?

2007 was a busy and eventful year for Hands of Hope.  We have been blessed to be involved in bringing more than a half-million dollars in donations and in-kind services to Plaquemines Parish.  In addition we have sponsored volunteer labor with a value in excess of $1MM.  2008 however promises to be more exciting and even busier if that is possible.  Hands of Hope expects to be involved in as much as $4MM in construction projects which will bring volunteer labor into the parish valued at more than $6.5 MM.  We are deeply appreciative of your support and desire your prayers as we move forward with this task.  It is God to whom we dedicate our lives and it is the displaced residents of Plaquemines Parish to whom we dedicate our time.  Our continued prayer is that you are blessed beyond measure for your role in Hands of Hope and in the restoration of our parish, and that in that blessing you will experience a deeper, taller, wider, and fuller personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.