Almost three years after Hurricane Katrina, community and non-profit groups say they have learned a lot. That's why the Community Foundation of East Mississippi sponsored a breakfast meeting Friday to address those lessons learned.

"Part of our mission is really to help individuals make informed decisions as far as the expression of their philanthropy and how they can be able to connect and give back to the community," said Roman Herrington, executive director of the Community Foundation of East Mississippi.

Aside from giving money, another major need is to give time. That's why efforts are ongoing in east Mississippi to better coordinate volunteer efforts in the future.

Since Hurricane Katrina, officials with the United Way of East Mississippi say they have established an organization known as VOAD, Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters. The group consists of representatives from faith-based organizations, among others, and it meets at least once a month.

"After Katrina it was 50 to 60 people. Now it's about 25 to 30 and this is local emergency management people, state and federal," said Thad Quarles, executive director of The Unite Way. "FEMA sits at the table. We have local groups, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and really anybody that provides relief and recovery efforts."

One of the special guests for the informational session was the head of the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service. She told the group that there is still a need for volunteers to help build and repair homes.

"Huge amounts of work are still going on, and in fact, one of our purposes is to help people understand that we're not normal," said Marsha Meeks Kelly. "Another decade worth of work is still in front of us. There are still families that are living in difficult truly sub-standard situations. And that if it weren't for the volunteers, the non-profits, or the faith-based groups, we're not going to be able to make those families whole in this state."

There's currently a help line that people can call to find out about volunteer needs in Mississippi. That number is 2-1-1.

Meanwhile, Meeks says she's working on opening a branch office for the state volunteer service in east Mississippi within the next year.