FAQ

What is Eight Days of Hope VIII all about?

There were 216 tornados that hit the Southeast part of our country on April 27th, 2011. Hundreds of lives were lost and thousands of homes were destroyed. Two areas were hit extremely hard. Smithville, Mississippi and Hackleburg, Alabama were totally destroyed! Thousands of homeowners were affected and many are still in need of help! Most did not have the proper insurance, lost almost everything and have little resources to rebuild. This is where we come in! Eight Days of Hope is working with multiple churches and organizations to help homeowners rebuild their homes. Our goal is to use the gifts that God has given us and share the love of Jesus!

What are the sleeping arrangements going to be?

We will be providing accommodations similar to our previous trips. Church gyms and classrooms, segregated by gender, will provide you space to set up your own single size air mattresses, cots or foam pads that you bring from home. You may also bring a tent and camp outside if you prefer. There will be gender segregated showers and restrooms available. There are RV sites nearby and plenty of hotels also. If you are coming as a family and desire to be housed together, we suggest you bring a tent, RV or pursue hotel accommodations.

Do I have to bring my own food?

No. We will provide all of the food for all volunteers. We are looking for churches and businesses willing to underwrite this cost. With a donation of $3,000 a church or a business can supply the food necessary for all of our volunteers for one day. Please email us at eightdaysofhope@aol.com for more information. You can also elect to sponsor a meal for $1,000.

What kind of work will we be doing?

The primary work will be the rebuilding of uninsured damaged homes. Almost all of these homes need to be rebuilt. This includes new electrical wiring, insulation, flooring, drywall, carpentry and paint. We are also in dire need of people who have mechanical and plumbing skills! Beyond home restoration there are many support jobs which include data entry, transportation, laundry, cleaning and food service. There is definitely something for everyone's skill set!

We also will be helping two churches that were totally destroyed to be rebuilt! One is in Alabama and one is in Mississippi!

Should we bring tools?

Yes! Please bring any tools that you can, especially those that you would anticipate using. Air Compressors, ladders, drills, drywall tools, paint brushes…etc. Eight Days of Hope has outfitted a tool trailer and will be bringing it to supplement any tools you may not own.

Can we bring our youth group or our children?

Yes, every youth volunteer will need a special release signed by one of his/her parents that we will keep on file at the registration tables. We are asking for one adult chaperone for every four youth. Please remember that there will be unique sleeping arrangements separated by gender.

Families bringing their children will work side by side at the jobsites. If families wish to sleep together, there are local motels, campgrounds and RV sites available.

Do we have to stay for all Eight Days?

No. We are asking each volunteer to come for at least three days.

Is transportation provided from the area airports?

Yes. If you need transportation, please make sure you include your travel information on your volunteer form. We will provide information to and from Columbus, Mississippi and Tupelo, Mississippi only. The two airport codes for these airports are GTR (Columbus) and TUP (Tupelo).

Can we bring our pets?

We are sorry, but bringing pets is not allowed for health and safety reasons. Please respect this rule.

If we are coming as a group can we fill out one volunteer form?

No, each volunteer needs to fill out a volunteer form at www.eightdaysofhope.com/volunteer.html with an email address. In the Comments section of the volunteer form please make note that you are coming with a group and include the name of the group so we can try to lodge you at one site. All of the members in this group can use one email address for communication purposes.

What will be a typical day at Eight Days of Hope VIII?

Breakfast will start around 6:00 and conclude around 7:15. We will spend 15 minutes together before we head out to the work sites. Lunch will be delivered to the jobs. Supper will begin at 6:00 and conclude at 7:15. An optional devotion and worship time will follow!

Will there be any medical support at Eight Days of Hope VIII?

Yes. We will have at least one Registered Nurse onsite. If you are a medical professional and would like to be added to our list of medical resources, please make a note in the Comments section of your registration form.

Can I bring my RV?

Yes, there are sites available nearby at no charge. Please email us at www.eightdaysofhope.com/contact.html for a list of sites.

What else can we do to prepare for Eight Days of Hope VIII?

Please pray that God would be glorified by our actions. Pray for safety! Pray that God sends the people He wants to be a part of Eight Days of Hope VIII. Pray that God will not only allow us to restore homes and rebuild churches, but that He opens up many doors for us as we encourage people in the name of Jesus Christ!