Volunteers Keying Katrina Recovery Efforts

Hurricane Katrina tore into the Gulf Coast two years ago Wednesday.

There were lots of promises about cleaning up and rebuilding, but it's been a very slow go.

Local, state and federal officials have their hands full and, reports The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith, much of the real work is being done not by government agencies, but by regular people, on their own time, just trying to make a difference.

Smith calls it "amazing" that, in the first year after Katrina, 555,000 people volunteered along the Gulf Coast. This past year, that number grew to 600,000, and more are still needed. Many more.

Many people are spending honeymoons or family reunions or birthdays there - proof, Smith says, that if your heart's in the right place, it really is better to give than to receive.

Smith went to New Orleans, and met many members of that army of volunteers.

He told some of their stories on The Early Show Wednesday. To see his report,

Check here later to see that report.

If you want to pitch in, in any way, visit the Web sites of these groups mentioned in Smith's report: The USA Freedom Corps, AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity, and Teach NOLA.