November 9, 2005 — In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, organizations throughout the NeighborWorks network have joined together to help out fellow network members in New Orleans. Together, NeighborWorks of Western Vermont, NHS of New York, NHS of New Haven, NHS of Los Angeles, Thistle Community Housing (Boulder, Colorado) and Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (Saticoy, California) have raised $40,139 in cash and in-kind donations. The funds will go largely to NHS of New Orleans and Voices of Calvary Ministry; with the remainder of the funding earmarked for the American Red Cross.

For many NeighborWorks organizations, the decision to give was an easy one.

“After 9-11 [September 11, 2001] we received so many wonderful gestures of support from the network…I can’t tell you how much that network support meant to us,” said Sarah Gerecke, chief executive officer, Neighborhood Housing Services of NYC. “So when the hurricanes happened, I reached out immediately to NHS of New Orleans and Voice of Calvary Ministry just to let them know we were thinking of them and wanting to know if we could do anything.” 

Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing Services (LANHS) made the largest single donation—$35,000. "Having lived through riots, earthquakes and post 9-11 relief efforts, we knew that the most significant thing we could do would be to send cash quickly," said LANHS Executive Director Lori Gay. "We also wanted our donation to be large enough to help the organizations do more than help one or two families. Yes, this was difficult; we have our own needs and fundraising challenges like everyone else. However, we believe strongly that as long as we bless others we will continue to be blessed as well. We have always tried to give, even at our weakest financial moments, so that we could know the power of struggle, faith and hope against hope that things would get better…and they always have. Our hearts have been torn apart by the Katrina storm and now all of the others as well…what would we do if Los Angeles was gone? The thought of it makes me shudder and tear up every time."

Donations took many forms. Boulder, Colorado’s Thistle Community Housing earmarked a portion of the proceeds from its annual “Raise the Roof” fundraiser for NHS of New Orleans. The organization even acknowledged its fellow NeighborWorks organization in this year’s theme — “New Orleans ’n All That Jazz.”

NHS of Vermont gave both to the Red Cross and to NHS of New Orleans. “Lauren Anderson has been a dedicated executive director of NHS of New Orleans for many years,” said Jim Paley, executive director of NHS New Haven. In addition, she is originally from Hamden, Connecticut, [a] suburb of New Haven. Our contributions were only a small gesture of our support for her and for her program.”

While NHS of New Orleans and Voice of Calvary still have long way to go, the road is a bit easier to travel thanks to their affiliates around the country. NeighborWorks has long promoted the idea that communities are stronger when partners pitch in and help each other out. It’s clear that the same goes for NeighborWorks organizations.