GO New Orleans

GO ahead and ask.

Quick Facts

The Important Stuff

(You should know this)

Where are we headed?
The Big Easy, the birthplace of jazz music, home to Mardi Gras, the center of Creole country, a.k.a. New Orleans.

Why are we going?
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated a community that was already struggling. At that time, Crossroads sent $150,000 and a truckload of donated supplies to the Gulf Region. Well, they still need our help nearly three years later, and our compassion is a reflection of God’s spirit. We will do everything we can to be a blessing, to give people hope—and a place to call home again.

When are we going?
Our team will leave Cincinnati on Saturday, August 2 and return on Sunday, August 10. If you’re trying to do vacation-day-math, that’s five workdays. We chose August to maximize the opportunity for families to go together, and it was the only time Habitat could accommodate 300 volunteers at one time. Yeah, we know. It’s gonna be egg-cooking-on-the-sidewalk hot—and humid. And we can’t wait.

What type of work will we be doing?
We’ll build homes under the instruction of Habitat for Humanity in the Upper Ninth Ward, one of the areas hardest hit by Katrina. Habitat is lending the infrastructure, leaders, material coordination and logistics. We’re exploring and developing additional ways to bless the community during our time in New Orleans. You don’t have to be Bob Vila to add value. Tasks range greatly from simple jobs (hammer this nail here), to more complicated jobs like running a chop saw or using a floor-print to assemble walls. That being said, we are going to work hard for 7 to 8 hours a day in the hot, humid New Orleans heat, and you need to be prepared and capable. Not everyone can be a water carrier. If you have concerns, please talk to one of the trip leaders.

Who can go?
300 people (the max that the work site can accommodate). Anyone 18 or over can go (or 14 and over with a parent/guardian). Everyone is welcome: people who attend Crossroads, people who’ve never heard of Crossroads, friends and family from out of town, anyone who wants to serve other people. No matter what you believe about God you’re welcome on this trip.

How do we get there?
It is…wait for it…at least an 18-hour bus trip, with an occasional stop along the way to chow down on gas-station Cheetos and play impromptu games of lacrosse. These are nice buses. Really. Still, it’s a long drive. So please take a shower and refrain from Skyline immediately prior to boarding.

How much does it cost?
$750 for the week. A $200 deposit is due with your application by May 5. The remainder is due on July 8.

What if I don’t have that much money?
Join the club. We have a handshake. Close to 90% of people who have been to South Africa, for example, did not have the funds sitting in their bank account when they decided to go. And nearly everyone raised the funds. Don’t let money stop you. Raising money is actually a very cool part of this experience. We’ll talk a lot more about the finance stuff later–and help you generate fundraising ideas. We have an awesome web system that helps with this process, and a little faith goes a long way. Our mantra is, “Work hard; have faith.” Have some and see what happens.

How do I sign up?
Fill out an application no later than May 5 at 5pm. We’ll ask you all kinds of questions like if you’re part of a group, who you’d like as your roommate, what you want to work on, if you smell and so on. Once you complete your application, you will need to pay your deposit of $200 either online or by mailing a check. Applications are not complete until the deposit is received in the Crossroads’ office. All applicants will be contacted by May 9 to confirm their trip participation.

The Other Stuff

(More info to convince you that we know what we're doing)

What else will we do?
You just have to know everything up front, don’t you? We’ll attend a service at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church (located in the Upper Ninth Ward), build relationships with folks in New Orleans, and have some time to experience some of the city’s culture, like its renowned jazz music. Not Mardi Gras-type fun. Jeez. This is a church trip.

Will I have to preach or pray in front of people?
Not unless you want to. This trip is for everyone, regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey. You will not be required to do anything you are not comfortable doing back home.

Can I fly down instead of taking the bus?
Nope. Sorry. This is a group experience—and part of that experience is 18 hours on the bus. Think of it as a great time to meet new friends, read comics and rest before a week of hard labor.

Where will we stay?
In the Double Tree New Orleans. You’ll have access to the things you’d expect: showers, beds, hairdryers, bad TV, Internet access…even a pool. Yes, you will have a roommate. And no, you can’t shack up in a co-ed room unless you’re married.

What about my mad skills?
We’re interested in any special skills you have—whether in medicine, construction, teaching, painting or singing in the shower. (But maybe keep the last one to yourself.) We’ll ask you about your skills on the application.

What does the trip cost cover?
Pretty much everything—most meals, hotel, some activities and the bus ride there and back. You’ll be on your own for a couple of dinners, so you’ll need cash for that. And if you want to buy beads, a King Cake or a po’ boy, that’s up to you, too.

What happens if more than 300 people sign up? How do you decide who gets to GO?
If we have more people sign up than spaces available, we will draw names at random in a lottery. We won’t split up families or groups unless you indicate that’s OK on your application.

What if I can’t do the work?
While we have jobs for all skill sets, ages and 5k times, please know that the trip can be exhausting. We’ll be working 7 to 8 hours a day, it’s gonna be hot (did we mention that?) and you’ll be getting up early every day. If you have concerns about your physical situation, please talk to us. We want everyone to go, but if you ignore your physical limitations up front you could end up being miserable.

What is the trip preparation like?
We will have a series of meetings (approximately one per month) leading up to the trip where you will learn more about New Orleans, the effects of Katrina on the city, what we are doing, meet others who are going on the trip and just have a good time. We’ll also have a website full of trip resources.  

Anything else you really want to tell me?
Thanks for asking. If you have a strong desire to take a vacation to New Orleans, we encourage you to go. It’s a great place. That being said, this is not that trip. Deciding to go with us means you want to be a part of our mission to change the world. In pursuit of that group goal, however, you may not get to do everything you want to do in the way you are accustomed to doing things. It’s a posture of submitting to something bigger than yourself. But if you do it, we promise an incredible experience! Let’s go see what happens.