St. Bernard Project

St. Bernard Project (SBP) is a community-based nonprofit organization headquartered in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. Founded in 2006, SBP’s mission is to remove barriers for families who wish to return to their homes in St. Bernard. To date, utilizing volunteer labor and donations for building supplies, SBP has rebuilt over 245 families’ homes and is currently working on 30 more homes. Homes are completely rebuilt in about 12 weeks and building supplies cost an average of $15,000 per house.

Our all-under-one-roof model of volunteer-driven serves low to moderate-income clients who do not have cash on hand or access to cash to rebuild their homes. This program gives priority to clients in three categories: elderly, disabled, and parents/caretakers of children.

By utilizing volunteer labor, skilled supervisors and affordable building supplies, the program rebuilds homes in 12 weeks at a cost of approximately $15,000 (including supplies and staff supervision) per home. To date the Rebuilding Program has rebuilt homes for over 245 families in the Greater New Orleans region and works on 30+ homes at a time. More than 17,000 volunteers have supported this program.

The St. Bernard Project began in the summer of 2006 and has been constantly growing since. SBP was started by Zack Rosenburg and Liz McCartney, a lawyer and a teacher who transplanted to Louisana from DC after they fell in love with the community during a volunteer trip and saw that their needs were not being met. SBP has been growing consistantly for 3 years now, expanding programs both in area and in scope. Liz McCartney was named CNN's Hero of the Year in 2008.

As of October 2009, more than 17,000 volunteers have helped St. Bernard Project rebuild more than 245 families' homes. It’s an impressive amount of volunteers, yet the need is still great in St. Bernard Parish. Thousands of families still struggle to get back into their homes.

How much of an impact can one volunteer make?

In one day a St. Bernard Project volunteer without previous construction experience can

• Spackle/mud in several rooms
• Install a new floor
• Paint a small house

Now that you know what can be done in a day, imagine what you can be done in two days. One week. Two weeks. One month. Double that if you bring a friend. Or multiply it by the size of your team.

How do I sign up to volunteer?

• Register online with our new system! View the SBP volunteer calendar and select your dates. You will receive an email response as soon as your dates are approved.
• Read the Volunteer Arrival Packet and plan your trip! (SBP fact sheet, volunteer housing options, rental car discounts and other specifics on volunteering with SBP.)
• Complete the SBP Release Forms (with minors obtaining a parent/guardian signature) and bring them to orientation on your first day.

What will I do as a volunteer?

You will literally help rebuild a family’s home. This may include hanging insulation or sheetrock, mudding/spackling, sanding, texturing, priming, painting, laying floors, and/or hanging trim, doors and baseboard. If you have significant experience any of these areas or in framing, electric, plumbing and/or cabinetry, please inform the Volunteer Department prior to your arrival so that we can assign you to a specialty team.

Watch our Volunteer Video

and learn more about the volunteer experience, or

read about one volunteer's experience

.