SANDPOINT — Three years after Hurricane Katrina pummeled the Gulf Coast, a devout, energetic group of people continue to flock to New Orleans to take part in the long process of rebuilding what has been called America's forgotten city.

Thousands of Americans have made the trip to New Orleans to help bring the city back to life, with a disproportionate amount of them hailing from North Idaho. With such a strong contingency of volunteers from the area, relief organization Forward Edge International chose Sandpoint to host its annual fall banquet.

A faith-based non-profit organization, Forward Edge mobilizes volunteers to help those affected by poverty, disaster and sickness in the United States and around the world.

According to Sandpoint's Dale Jeffres, who has made several trips to New Orleans with Forward Edge, as many as 100 area volunteers have visited the Gulf Coast since Katrina touched down in late August 2008.

"The response from our area on this has been overwhelming," Jeffres said. "Per capita, we've provided more relief response than any place in the United States. It's been unbelievable how different people from different churches and different areas have worked together to help out."

The Oct. 4 banquet will bring together a number of Forward Edge volunteers and organizers to discuss their experience with the organization, the impact of their work and the future of New Orleans. The event will also be attended by New Orleans-based field coordinators Jeff and Kris Thompson, who will share personal insight about the rebuilding process.

Even with organizations like Forward Edge putting New Orleans in the spotlight, Jeffres said there is still substantial work to be done before anyone can claim victory.

"The end is in sight, but we're still looking, realistically, at being 10 years away," Jeffres said. "But someday the people of New Orleans are going to be back on their feet, and when (a disaster) happens in another part of the country it's going to be people from New Orleans who will be responding. That's how they look at it."

It's tough work, but Jeffres said helping others is contagious and many of the people who have traveled to New Orleans cannot wait to make a second or third trip — in part because of the character of Gulf Coast residents.

"What we have found is that they are probably some of the friendliest people we've ever encountered. My wife Vicki and I have been to a lot of different places in the world and in this country, but we've never been welcomed any place like we have with the people of New Orleans," Jeffres said.

Jeffres welcomes anyone interested in Forward Edge or its mission to attend the banquet, which will be hosted by the Ponderay Events Center. Registration begins at 6 p.m., with a dessert and speakers beginning at 6:30 p.m. Call Jeffres at 255-6656 or Fred Petteruto at 263-4532 for tickets or more information.