Since August 2005, LESM has been involved in relief and recovery efforts on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Among the first disaster response teams deployed, LESM established relief camps based out of the Lutheran and Episcopal churches on the coast while initiating evacuee resettlement efforts in Jackson, Mississippi. These relief centers operated as volunteer housing, case management, construction management, and distribution hubs.
Today, LESM manages two volunteer camps on the Mississippi Gulf Coast (Camp Victor Ministries, Ocean Springs and Mission on the Bay, Bay St. Louis).Our Recovery Camps specialize in providing affordable and sustainable living for residents of the coast impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Our services include volunteer housing, case management and construction management.
Almost five years out from the storm, it’s amazing to witness the amount of volunteers worldwide that spend their vacation time serving others that were affected by Hurricane Katrina. As others have said, “The hurricane was an act of nature and what’s happening now is an act of God.” Our organization and the homeowners of the Mississippi Gulf Coast could not have come this far without the hard work and dedication of volunteer teams such as yours. However, with each passing year and each new disaster that hits the nation, hurricane victims are forgotten. Funding for rebuilding is running low and volunteer numbers are decreasing, but there are many families that still need homes, families living in FEMA travel trailers, and families seeking hope…We will be their hope
As outside funding sources have dwindled and volunteer numbers have slowly declined, Mission on the Bay, Camp Victor Ministries and other recovery camps on the Gulf Coast have had to make strategic adjustments. While we are making many changes on the “front line” to keep the mission stable, we need your support more than ever to ensure that our current mission of disaster recovery is completed and that our future mission of long-term sustainable housing on the Gulf Coast becomes a reality for all citizens.
If all of our supporters would make a just a small investment, the “Futures for Families” of the Gulf Coast would be very bright!
For information on LESM's other programs and services, we invite you to visit us at www.LESM.org.
About Us
Last updated: 5/4/2010
The Messenger is Futures for Families monthly newsletter where we highlight current projects, homeowners and volunteer groups. In addition, we share news and updates with past group leaders and volunteers.
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Copyright 2009 Futures for Families
(CVM) 228-875-0313 - 1515 Government Street, Ocean Springs, MS 39564
(MOB) 228-466-2900 - 647 Demontluzin St, Bay St. Louis, MS 39520
501(c) (3) Organization - Futures for Families is a program of Lutheran Episcopal Services in MS
Mission on the Bay and Camp Victor Ministries
Promote Futures for Families
Rebuilding, restoring, and addressing the needs of families across the Mississippi Gulf Coast
