The Second Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is tomorrow, August 29. Two years after the storm slamming America's Gulf Coast region and bludgeoning one of its major cities, New Orleans, La., some Americans remain immensely concerned and passionate about rebuilding the region and the city. Many of those concerned are not tied by family to these communities. They simply want to be part of the solution, to help. Katina Parker, resident of California and the founder and director of New Orleans Labor of Love is one of those people, and she believes part of the solution is bringing more volunteers to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

I have been a stay at home mom for 14 years. Even now when I am asked what I do, I nearly choke out, "I am a freelance writer and author" because I have always been a stay at home mom. No paychecks for me for over a decade. Though the paychecks are now coming in regularly, it still feels strange to think of myself as having a job in addition to motherhood. Let me tell you something right up front. It is hard to make the adjustment. It can be tough to change your perception when you have identified yourself in a particular way for so many years.