MONTREAL - About 2,000 volunteers rolled up their sleeves in the flood-soaked Richelieu Valley Saturday to spend the weekend helping with the cleanup effort.

More than 3,000 homes have been affected by the flooding, and now that the water has receded, this is the first of two weekends dedicated to removing debris and damage.

Volunteer crews, dressed in bright yellow T-shirts, arrived in the Richelieu Valley by shuttle bus from Montreal in the morning to begin the work.

So far, about 10,000 people have responded to the call by the organization to take part in the initial four-day cleanup.

Response has been so great, organizers are considering adding a third weekend.

Michel Berthiaume and his wife decided to make the drive from their home in Quebec City to help.

He said it's the least they could do for the flood victims who have been battling high waters since April.

"People are at the end of their rope," Berthiaume said.

"To lose everything you've worked hard for your whole life, I find that really hard. I think in times of crisis in Canada we need to help each other."

Pierre Beland, who has been volunteering for the last three weeks, said it's the least he can do for those struggling.

"When you see people in their house trying to pump water out and they're so stressed, I had to continue to do it," he said.

Flood victims Sandra Moreira was emotional at the outpouring of assistance Saturday.

"You just wake up and there's a bunch of people in front of your house. They come from nowhere and you don't know them and they're just all happy to come and help you out," she said.

"It was pretty overwhelming this morning to see that all that time we weren't by ourselves-- people were thinking of coming over here to give the proper help."

Volunteers are removing waterlogged furniture and half a million sandbags, which weigh between 60 and 80 pounds each.

Volunteer care packages have been prepared that will include garbage bags, work gloves, masks, and snacks.

Flood victims will also receive a care package of cleaning supplies.

But just as important as the labour, organizers are reminding volunteers to take time to listen to the victims.

"They come with their heart... and this is going to be the most appreciated by our citizens in 45 days," said Michel Fecteau, volunteer coordinator of SOS Richelieu.

Fecteau's sentiments were echoed by Quebec Premier Jean Charest last Saturday during his fifth visit to the flood zone. Charest said the presence of volunteers in the area will offer a signal of support for the more than 1,000 people who have been forced from their homes.

Many people still haven't been able to return home, amid heartbreaking reports of ruined belongings, heavy mould and building rot.

Premier Jean Charest toured the region again Saturday and promised to reevaluate the province's compensation package for flood victims.

The flood waters in the Richelieu Valley and Lake Champlain basin were the highest in 150 years.

Canadian Forces troops were called in to assist provincial and local authorities with relief efforts -- but authorities were criticized for not acting quickly enough.

People also said the army should have stayed to assist with the cleanup, despite Ottawa's reply that it is not the job of soldiers to perform custodial duties.

Continuing rain and high winds maintained the high water levels, which only started to go down with the recent arrival of warm weather.

With a report from The Canadian Press