National Charity Seeks Volunteers To Lend A Hand (NAPSA)—Many people are surprised to learn how rewarding it is to volunteer. Helping others can be a life-changing experience. There are many opportunities to make a difference. For example, Volunteers of America, a national charity, is encouraging students and corporate and religious groups to volunteer their time to help rebuild New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. More than one year after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, thou- sands of devastated families and individuals in the Gulf Coast region and New Orleansstill need so much help. While thousands of volunteers have helped in relief efforts to date, a lot still needs to be done. “Our city and its people are still in dire need of help,” said Cathie Peterman, New Orleans director of volunteer services for Volunteers of America, one of the nation’s largest nonprofits. “Groups of volunteers are needed to assist residents in gutting and rebuilding their homes, cleaning up debris from yards and parks, and manyotheractivities.” Over the past year, college students and corporate and church groups and many others have come to New Orleans, Alabama and Mississippi to assist in the relief effort. Orleans and the Gulf Coast to rebuild can change many lives, including your own. Although there has been a lot of activity in the Gulf Coast region, it will take multitudes of volunteers and many years to effectively rebuild. The number of volunteers coming to help all nonprofits has fallen severely as the disaster stories have dropped off the front page. “T hope that many people will consider donating a week of their time,” Peterman said. “I know they'll find this work to be a lifechanging experience.” For more information or to volunteer, please contact the New Orleans Volunteers of America at www.voagno.org or (504) 4833557, or the Alabama and Mississippi Volunteers of America at www.voase.org or (251) 344-4500.
