This evening served as an acute reminder of why Project: Katrina Hope is here. Paul Perez, one of the residents of St. Bernard Parish, cooked dinner for all of the volunteers working with the St. Bernard Project this week, and it turned into a special evening of sharing. After serving the more than 150 volunteers, Mr. Perez presented a video slideshow and narration of his story (of attempting to clean and rebuild his damaged home) and gratitude for all that the volunteers have done to help his family and all of the Gulf Coast. The volunteers and myself were very touched by his gesture of thanksgiving, and it really reminded everyone that their work makes a great difference in the community.
I was fortunate enough to speak with Mr. Perez after most of the people had left, and it really struck a chord with what our organization is attempting to accomplish. He urged me to focus on the appreciation of the residents for all that the volunteers had done for them, and he made a statement that rings true with so many residents of the region. “I wish the volunteers could stand in my shoes and feel the love I have received from them. I’m lucky that this all happened to me.”
It is amazing how grateful the residents are for all of the work being done here, and this evening was an incredibly uplifting experience for all of the volunteers. Even more exciting is that I will be able to share this story with all of you and with many more people across the nation, hopefully inspiring others to come down and be a part of the positive growth of the region.
With hope,
Gretchen
Posted on June 24th, 2008 by Gretchen Wieland
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There’s not much that can beat the energy of groups that truly perform tasks with a common goal in mind. I am thankful I got to experience such energy this morning.
After beginning the week at a well-delivered orientation for St. Bernard Project, the volunteer coordinator, Emily, sent me out into the parish, armed with directions to a few of their worksites. I spent my morning with part of the 60+ member group from St. Paul’s Church in Indiana. They added drywall to the ceilings of a Violet, La., home with impressive conviction. At least one member joked they were “Team Perfection” before applying the sheet rock in ideal fashion to one of the bedrooms. These high schoolers and their leaders simply worked together to get things done, and they served as an inspiring first group. I’ll be checking back in on them throughout the week to record their progress.
I passed the afternoon in Chalmette, La., watching a group from Chicago do mold remediation on a home owned by a very nice man. Jerry, the homeowner, stopped by several times throughout the day to thank the high school boys and their leader and do a bit of work of his own. It was easy to tell that these volunteers got along well with one another, and they worked at a quick pace to seal away any mold left in the wooden frame from Katrina. I was able to spend a good amount of time speaking to Julie, their site supervisor from AmeriCorps, who told me about her work in the past year teaching in schools and helping disaster victims. The St. Bernard Project and AmeriCorps are both very lucky to have such outgoing and dedicated people, such as Julie.
This evening will be spent catching up with a few old friends from the University of Kansas and enjoying what New Orleans has to offer.
With hope,
Gretchen
Posted on June 23rd, 2008 by Gretchen Wieland
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Well, 14 hours after beginning our journey, my mother and I arrived in a humid New Orleans tired but extremely excited for the upcoming week.
The weather was beautiful almost the entire way, and I enjoyed time to think and reflect on how far we have come in this past year. I am thrilled to be a part of the positive energy the volunteers are sure to exhibit this week.
Tomorrow, I will be spending the day with a large church group from Michigan that will be working for the St. Bernard Project. I can’t wait to see how this group of more than 60 volunteers responds to the task of rebuilding a home.
Below is an image from the drive today. I’m a sucker for the views of Lake Pontchartrain on the way into New Orleans.
Please keep Project: Katrina Hope in your thoughts throughout the week. There is much in store for us!
With hope,
Gretchen
Posted on June 22nd, 2008 by Gretchen Wieland
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Right on schedule, the stress of coordinating a week of interviews and volunteer efforts has returned in full force. This time around, though, I have more of an idea of what to expect. I’m thoroughly excited to meet up with the groups and capture more in-depth interviews.
Our Project: Katrina Hope Insider Jeff provided vital contacts for next week, and we will have the opportunity to speak with some very knowledgeable locals about the recovery efforts and all of the incredible work of the volunteers. I’m anticipating some great interviews.
As well, I am thrilled to have a driving partner and a return volunteer to the Gulf Coast. My mother will be sharing car duties for the 14-hour drive, and she will be working with the St. Bernard Project and residing at Camp Hope for the week. This is her third volunteer trip to New Orleans, and she is a true inspiration to me. I am really looking forward to spending quality time with her through Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Thank you to those who have offered financial and written support in the last day! I can’t wait to present the fruits of our labor in just a few months.
With hope,
Gretchen
Posted on June 20th, 2008 by Gretchen Wieland
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I have been asked several times in the past few days how I can justify this crusade for rebuilding the Gulf Coast almost three years after a storm when people from the Midwest are currently experiencing major flooding.
Project: Katrina Hope does not turn a blind eye to this destruction. In fact, two of the Insiders and myself live or have lived in towns directly affected by these floods. A suspension bridge I traversed hundreds of times in my childhood collapsed, and I have a number of friends who have been evacuated from their homes.
However, just as in the Gulf Coast, I am confident that this destruction will be overcome. I am even more confident that it will occur in a much more timely fashion than some of the heartbreaking circumstances Louisiana and Mississippi volunteers still come upon today.
No, we do not focus on the Gulf Coast because we choose to ignore tragedies elsewhere. We focus on the Gulf Coast because, nearly three years after a debilitating hurricane, we need to remind people where to find hope. The students at Hobart and William Smith Colleges have done just that, as you can see below.
Our thoughts are with all of those suffering the effects of natural disasters, especially in this brutal spring season.
With hope,
Gretchen
Posted on June 18th, 2008 by Gretchen Wieland
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