help us as we rebuild the lower ninth ward of new orleans!

lowernine.org welcomes individuals and groups year-round, regardless of skill level and experience. If you do have construction knowledge, we’ll do our best to maximize use of your skills on our current projects. Let us know what you are bringing to the table! We provide all necessary project training and tools, so even if you’ve never swung a hammer – YOU can help rebuild and repair homes in the Lower Ninth Ward. We also accept volunteers at our food pantry, and long-term volunteers lead that effort.

ready to volunteer? here's how!

Read our Volunteer Handbook and Volunteer Info and FAQ carefully – many of your questions will be answered here, and you will get a good sense of what to expect from your volunteer experience. Email volunteer@lowernine.org with any additional questions. 

Email our volunteer coordinator at volunteer@lowernine.org with the dates you wish to serve. Decide whether our housing is right for you. Be prepared to pay a non-refundable 25% deposit to confirm your spot.

Coordinating for a group? We will need to know the number of people on your team, and we will coordinate with one single point of contact.

Your spot on our project schedule is not finalized until you’ve paid any housing and/or volunteer fees – these must be submitted electronically through PayPal. Be sure you’re ready to commit when you do submit fees, as they are non-refundable.

We welcome international volunteers! Please read our International Volunteer Page for details on what it looks like to travel to the U.S. to volunteer with us, and email volunteer@lowernine.org with any questions not covered there.

 

You will receive a confirmation email within one week of reaching out. We may confirm the dates you requested, or suggest alternate dates if our schedule is full. If required, we will confirm availability in our volunteer house. Please do not send multiple emails – we respond to requests in the order they are received, and will be in touch as soon as possible!

 Do NOT book flights or finalize any other travel arrangements until you’ve received a confirmation from us that we can accommodate you on the dates you requested.

to recap:

Questions about volunteering? Be sure to read our volunteer handbook and Volunteer Info and FAQ.

Additional questions & concerns? Don’t hesitate to contact us at volunteer@lowernine.org

we’re excited to work with you and we’ll be in touch soon!

  • Rodolphe Talagrand
    Great team! The work is interesting and you meet people from everywhere!
    Rodolphe Talagrand
    France
  • Mike Stagg
    Great organization doing real work, putting real people back in their homes in the Lower Ninth Ward. I've done volunteer work for them a couple of times and it great to work with the organization and the other volunteers.
    Mike Stagg
    LA
  • Maggie Grace Rasor
    Putting people back into their homes! That's what it is all about. This organization is just top notch. We enjoyed the heck out of working with them!
    Maggie Grace Rasor
    TX
  • Eva P.
    The things she taught us were anywhere from terrifying, to astonishing, to heartwarming. She is so hardworking, humble, simple, well-versed, well-informed, passionate like no one else I've ever met. She took us to all the four corners of the lower ninth ward, to George's house, and we even stopped in at her own house. She explained exactly how the water entered the area, how people lived before this flood and how the area was, how houses are built in the area, the current challenges overall, the progress and successes, the work being done in the community, how she ended up doing what she's doing, what the organization is doing and how, how volunteering with them works... I cannot speak highly enough about this experience.
    Eva P.
    Ottawa, Canada
  • Glenn Taylor
    If you are visiting New Orleans and want to get a real look at the ravages of Katrina as well as see great hope in people helping people, contact Lower Nine for their tour. You'll learn a lot and see more than any commercial tour will ever show you.
    Glenn Taylor
    OR
  • Justin B.
    I truly can't say enough good things about LOWERNINE.ORG! Some friends and I went on a walking/driving tour of the lower ninth ward with Laura and it was phenomenal. Our goal was to see how Katrina impacted the neighborhood and try to understand whether or not revitalization efforts have been successful. I won't say we left with many answers, but thanks to our conscientious guide we were able to learn a lot. Anyone interested in volunteering in New Orleans should reach out to lowernine to see how they can get involved. There is still a lot of work to be done and this organization is at the forefront of rebuilding efforts. Although we only had time for a day tour of the neighborhood, I know they also offer opportunities for extended service trips. We liked our experience so much we are already planning to go back!
    Justin B.
    Oakland, CA