Here's a sampling of perspectives from volunteers and victims:

Our volunteers go home changed people. They have seen God in ways they never in a million years thought they would.

Janet Hines, member of Tammany Oaks church, Mandeville, La.


We pray with them before and after, and we cry with them, especially some of the older ones who lost 50 to 60 years of memories in their home.

Cordell “Corky” Cowart, Vacaville, Calif., church elder, on helping victims who lost everything they owned

This is the Ritz-Carlton of roughing it.

Fred Franke, elder of Carrollton Avenue church, on Camp Algiers, a FEMA-funded tent city where church groups can receive free lodging and meals while doing relief work

Most people don’t realize how bad it is. You keep going to places that were worse than the last one you visited. You can’t really get a feel for it unless you’ve been here and put your eyes on it.

Don McMillon, Sojourner from Rochester, Minn., church


Churches of Christ have never been strong here, and people don’t even know who you are. So this gives us an opportunity ... and we’re showing them God’s love as best we can.

Robert Carpenter, elder of Carrollton Avenue church


Their members are gone, and that’s what’s going to be predominant in all of the churches that we drive by.

FRED Franke, on Elysian Fields church, which has not reopened since the Katrina evacuation scattered members across the nation

We’re going to house them and feed them ... and make them as comfortable as possible.

Nate Jones, elder of Bywater church, on turning the congregation’s inner-city outreach center into housing for church volunteers

There’s all levels of devastation. ... That kind of lends itself to anyone who wants to come and do something.

Jim Ladson, deacon of 38th Street church, Canton, Ohio

There’s no major revelation about why I’m here. I just think we need to help.

Jurgen Achterboseh, member of Vancouver, Wash., church

What I’m concerned about is, if we push forward and don’t have enough help, we’re just going to stall.

FRED Franke, who directs the Operation Nehemiah relief ministry

I can’t go home. There’s just too much to be done here.

Corky Cowart, who coordinates field work for Hilltop Rescue, sponsored by Hilltop Community church, El Segundo, Calif.

It’s kind of dramatic. You’re a school principal one day, and the next day, you’re jobless, with no place to stay.

Wayne Arnold, Carrollton Avenue church member who lost his home in the storm

It’s a good deal. Sometimes, when I pull up, it’s a traffic jam of people wanting stuff.

Keith McKnight, member of Southern Hills church, Franklin, Tenn., and volunteer truck driver for Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort

At night we all sang and prayed by candlelight.

Angela Marsalis, Carrollton Avenue church member, on seeking refuge in the church balcony while waiting for rescue boats

People from other areas aren’t hearing about this on the news anymore, and many think everything is back to normal. ... The stream of volunteers has slowed down tremendously as well as the funding.

Mark Cremeans, with Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team, sponsored by Somerset, Ohio, church