DETAILS

Gulf Coast Volunteering

Many organizations serving the Gulf Coast welcome volunteers. Organizations generally fall into three categories: high-profile organizations such as Habitat for Humanity (504-861-2077, http://www.habitat-nola.org/ ); religious groups such as California-based Hilltop Rescue (310-469-8750, http://www.hilltoprescue.org/ ); and small grass-roots organizations, including the two I worked with: Emergency Communities (917-442-8900, http://www.emergencycommunities.org/ ) and Common Ground Collective (504-717-5633, http://www.commongroundrelief.org/ ). Neither charges a fee to participate, although financial donations are gratefully accepted. For additional groups, check VolunteerMatch, a nonprofit clearinghouse, 415-241-6872 , http://www.volunteermatch.org/ .

GETTING THERE: United, Delta and US Airways fly nonstop from the Washington area to New Orleans, starting at about $245 round trip on Delta from Reagan National. From Dulles, flights start at $285 on United.

GETTING AROUND: If you plan on leaving your volunteer site, renting a car is a good idea, since many areas still have curfews and taxis are not dependable. Most major rental agencies have offices at the airport. One good side effect of Hurricane Katrina is that parking, even in the French Quarter, is actually available.

WHERE TO STAY: Some volunteer groups offer onsite lodging in tents, but between mosquitoes, overactive tent-mates and the New Orleans heat, you may not get much sleep. Fortunately, there are a variety of hotel and B&B options in the French Quarter, Marigny and Garden District neighborhoods, all within easy driving distance of volunteer operations. High-end French Quarter hotels such as the St. Louis (730 Bienville St., 888-508-3980, http://www.stlouishotel.com/ ) have doubles starting at $175 a night. B&Bs such as the Creole Inn (2471 Dauphine St., 504-948-3230, http://www.creoleinn.com/ ) and Sweet Olive (2460 N. Rampart St., 877-470-5323, http://www.sweetolive.com/ ) in the Marigny district have rooms starting at about $60 to $100 a night this summer, including breakfast. The New Orleans Bed & Breakfast and French Quarter Accommodations service (888-240-0070, http://www.neworleansbandb.com/ ) offers a selection. Guest houses offer some of the cheapest accommodations; the bare-bones Ursuline Guest House (708 Ursuline St., 504-343-0743) ranges from $75 to $125 a night, depending on the season, for a double room.

WHERE TO EAT: Most on-site volunteer organizations will provide you with three meals a day. The food at both Emergency Communities and Common Ground was varied, plentiful and flavorful. Emergency Communities even uses local or organic ingredients when it can, and residents sometimes pitch in to make the shrimp gumbo or red beans and rice.

But you should sample New Orleans cuisine at least once. Most of the big-name French Quarter restaurants are back in operation and worth a visit for their traditional dishes and ambiance. Galatoire's (209 Bourbon St., 504-525-2021, jackets required for men) and Antoine's (713 St. Louis St., 504-581-4422), the birthplace of Oysters Rockefeller, have entrees starting at about $20. For something less pricey but characteristically New Orleans, try Cafe du Monde (1039 Decatur St., 504-525-4544) for its beignets and chicory-laced coffee (under $10), and smaller neighborhood haunts, such as Li'l Dizzy's Cafe (1500 Esplanade Ave., 504-569-8997), where "Creole soul food" breakfasts are $6.99 and lunch entrees top out at $9.99.

PRECAUTIONS: After a post-Katrina lull, crime is on the rise again, and caution is necessary in certain neighborhoods. Like other volunteers, even while working I kept my ID, credit cards and money on a wallet strung around my neck. Those with respiratory ailments or those unable to withstand the New Orleans heat should consider helping in other ways.

INFORMATION: New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-672-6124, http://www.neworleanscvb.com/ . City of New Orleans, http://www.cityofno.com/ . The city also operates a help hotline for Orleans Parish residents and is willing to answer questions from visitors: 877-286-6431.

-- Eric Patel