Volunteers Restore 200 Flood-Damaged Louisiana Homes

When floodwaters swept through Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana on June 18, they left behind more than just mud and debris. They left 200 families staring at ruined homes, wondering where to even start.

That's when Samaritan's Purse showed up. The Christian humanitarian relief organization set up operations at Hessmer Baptist Church and got straight to work.

"We're helping people muck out their homes, remove belongings, and provide mold treatment service to prevent growth inside these homes," said Kevin McGann, program manager for Samaritan's Purse. Six teams are already working around the clock, but with 200 requests from residents, they need more volunteers.

Zachary Payne knows firsthand what that help means. When we met him near the church, he couldn't stop talking about the volunteers who saved his family's home.

"Oh man, they are fantastic. They need more people like that in the world," Payne said. "My son got a hold of them, and these people haven't stopped. Good spirited."

His voice carried the relief of someone who thought they'd lost everything but found a community ready to lift them back up.

The Ripple Effect

The work happening in Hessmer goes beyond repairing drywall and treating mold. It's restoring hope to families who wondered if they'd ever feel at home again.

Every volunteer who shows up creates a ripple. One person helps clear out a flooded basement. That family can move back in sooner. Kids can return to their own beds. Parents can stop worrying about where they'll sleep tonight.

Samaritan's Purse has made a promise: they're staying until every single home is restored. That kind of commitment doesn't just fix houses. It reminds an entire community that they haven't been forgotten.

The organization welcomes volunteers as young as 14. No special skills required, just willing hands and a few hours to spare.

Anyone wanting to help can show up at Hessmer Baptist Church at 7:30 a.m. or 7:30 p.m. for volunteer orientation. The work is physical, the days can be long, but families like the Paynes make it clear: every hour matters.

Two hundred families are counting on neighbors they've never met to help them reclaim what the floodwaters tried to take away, and that help is arriving one volunteer at a time.

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