Also watch Pastor Taylor share about how volunteers are crucial to rebuilding New Orleans. MYTH: "The Gulf Coast is Returning to Normal" The recovery process in New Orleans continues to be slow after Hurricane Katrina, four years ago, put 81 percent of the city underwater, caused 1,800 deaths in the region, and left behind $75 billion in destruction. The media likes a feel-good story, but for thousands of Gulf residents, life is far from normal. No one can deny that many areas have greatly improved. But progress has been extremely uneven: wealthier and whiter areas have done better, while the lower-income, largely African-American areas hit hardest continue to struggle. Nearly one out of three residential addresses in New Orleans is vacant -- and those are largely concentrated in areas like the Upper and Lower Ninth Ward. If you give your spring break to help the people of New Orleans you will be joining a grand tradition of volunteer work of which is said: "without it, there would be no recovery on the Gulf Coast!" You will also learn about the complex issues facing different communities as they recover, and explore how to pursue justice and service in your own life. This week could change your life!
Requirements. Participants must ensure that they are current with Tetanus shots. Costs. The total project cost is $495. (Early Deadline is $470.) This cost covers transportation to New Orleans, all transportation within New Orleans, lodging, food, and materials. Participants should bring their own money for food while traveling, souvenirs, and any fun activities in New Orleans. KRUP teams will travel by bus to New Orleans. Registration: Early deadline will be Dec 15 and final deadlines are set at FIVE weeks prior to project week. Discounts available! Most campuses are offering a "bring-a-friend" program. Through this program your KRUP cost is reduced if you are new to InterVarsity activities or you bring a friend who is new. Look for the "bring-a-friend" section on the registration page. Campus teams may choose to do additional campus fundraising to lower team costs and there may be additional need-based scholarships available. If you would like to come but are concerned about costs, we encourage you to apply and discuss your situation with an InterVarsity staff worker. If you have any questions, contact your local InterVarsity campus staff worker or contact the KRUP coordinator: Tom Brink at tom.brink1@gmail.com
The Early Registration Deadline is Dec 15. Late registrations may be subject to a late fee. Applicants submitting after their campus deadline will be accepted on a rolling basis at the discretion of the trip director. If accepted, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of $100 in order to secure your spot on the team. If you secure a spot and then cancel, you agree to pay an additional $100 cancellation fee. The "bring-a-friend" program intends to encourage students from diverse ethnic, political, and spiritual backgrounds to participate in KRUP. Therefore members of InterVarsity and other campus Christian groups -- while certainly encouraged to invite friends on KRUP -- may not count as each other's friends for the purposes of the discount.
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Schedule. Each day, teams will be rebuilding homes in the Upper & Lower Ninth Ward with well established groups like Habitat for Humanity and St. Bernard's Project. The typical day will begin with breakfast and then relief work from 7:45 am to 4:30pm. Each evening, there will be group discussions and challenging guest speakers who will lead campus groups in exploring the intersection of Christian faith and service. All spiritual viewpoints are welcome, and no previous experience with the Bible is necessary.