Mardi Gras Service Corps

Here is a quick glance of our programming:

The Volunteer Corps

We are still running strong with projects all around town.
We support projects from our partner agencies and organizations
by supplying volunteers for projects such as New Orleans school
refurbishing, neighborhood beautification, and surveys.

The Volunteer Corps has had the privilege of hosting over
1500 volunteers to date. Through our network of partners,
we have completed so many great projects including
rehabilitating community centers like the NORD Kelley Center,
rehabbing local churches like Stronger Hope Baptist, gutting
over 100 houses, neighborhood surveys for organizations like
the Bywater Neighborhood Association, painting in New Orleans
schools like Capdou, Mc Main, and Operry Walker, and so many
more!

To volunteer please call our office line 504.401.1899
or email us at mardigrasservicecorps@gmail.com

The Family Match Program

Making houses homes again:
The Program is a response to the sentiment that we were
not applying our skills and capabilities usefully to the
community as we could. As we completed projects with our
partner agencies, we saw that so many families still could
not return home. We saw that a program of our smaller size,
student driven effort, and community imbedded nature had a
unique piece we could accomplish.

The Program matches a student team with a family council
consisting of three families. The students serve as a
support team for the displaced families seeking to return
home. They assist in the deconstruction and rebuilding of
flooded homes, and the moving of furniture. Students also
assist returning families with the details of applications,
bureaucratic procedures, and contacts involved with insurance,
the school system, and city hall. In addition to working,
student teams serve as personal attentive support for the
family as they struggle to reclaim their homes and lives.

Currently, our efforts are focused on four fronts:

(1) To successfully complete the Family Match Pilot
Program and prepare for our program opening
(2) To continue establishing temporary housing for
displaced families
(3) To create facilities for volunteer headquarters/
community resource centers
(4) To build the partnerships and funds necessary to
support these efforts on a scale that will effectively
help as many families and communities possible

The objectives of the MGSC Family Match Program are:
(1) To rebuild sustainable, thriving communities in New
Orleans house by house, neighborhood by neighborhood.
(2) To form lasting relationships between local college
students and New Orleans community members.
(3) To develop community-focused leadership skills among
college students, including case management, social work,
community development and leadership.

Helping families return home

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Contributions to the Mardi Gras Service Corps / Family Match
Program are tax deductible. Please make all checks payable to
MGSC's 501 (c)(3) fiscal sponsor - Efforts of Grace Inc., and
mail to:

Efforts of Grace, Inc.
c/o Ash� Cultural Arts Center
1712 Oretha Castle-Haley Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70113