Who Are We?
Project: Katrina Hope is an organization working to call people to action by volunteering their time and resources to hurricane-ravaged areas of the South, especially New Orleans, Louisiana. In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed the lives and homes of hundreds of thousands of people, changing the landscape of the city forever. However, one thing remained amidst the devastation–hope. The major venture of Project: Katrina Hope is a documentary focused on the people who provide this hope to New Orleans residents. Nearly 80% of those cleaning and rebuilding from Katrina are volunteers. They come from all over the country to donate their time, talents, and money, with no expectation of return.
This documentary follows volunteers as they work to restore and secure hope for a bright future for the hurricane victims. It tells the stories of those who are inspired to drive dozens of hours on a chartered bus to build a house in triple-digit heat, and of those who raise their own funds to raise the spirits of families who have lost everything. It tells the stories of the recipients of the cleaning and rebuilding efforts–the victims of Katrina–who give back through gratitude, memories of the way things used to be, and optimism for a return to normalcy.
Project: Katrina Hope was created in July 2007 by University of Kansas graduate Gretchen Wieland after she returned from a trip to New Orleans. Frustrated by a lack of positive coverage about the volunteer efforts and the residents of the city who are rebuilding, Project: Katrina Hope is this student’s attempt to educate and inspire people to commit to volunteering. The documentary will serve as a starting block for future funding efforts, which include financial support for groups who travel to New Orleans and assistance for those looking to rebuild their homes.