Project: Katrina Hope…raise funds…raise walls…raise spirits

As promised, below is a clip from our first day of filming the documentary. This young woman volunteers with AmeriCorps, and she led the Colorado State group in adding drywall to the ceilings of their home in St. Bernard Parish. Listen to what she has to say about the house they are rebuilding for a family.

Amanda Atkins, AmeriCorps volunteer

Amanda Atkins has a talent for energizing people. She bonded well with the volunteers from Colorado State, the majority of whom had no previous experience working with drywall. Atkins spent two months working with the St. Bernard Project, and it’s clear that she made a difference.

Many more of these video clips are forthcoming. At this time of the year, volunteers are beginning to endure the heat of the Gulf Coast, so please keep them in mind.

With hope,
Gretchen

Posted on June 6th, 2008 by Gretchen Wieland
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It is with great pleasure that I announce the second trip to the Gulf Coast to film the Project: Katrina Hope documentary. Within the next month, we will be back in Louisiana and Mississippi, interviewing volunteer groups and local officials about the lasting effect of Hurricane Katrina. More details about the trip are forthcoming.

Editing the March New Orleans footage is well underway, and it has been a delight to relive memories from that fantastic week as I attempt to bring to life the stories volunteers so eloquently portrayed through their actions. We met some truly spectacular people, and I can only imagine that the same will happen in a few weeks.

I apologize for the silence on this site in the last few months. Graduating from college became much more time-consuming than I had ever imagined, though it was an unforgettable experience. One of my proudest moments of that weekend was when the journalism dean mentioned Project: Katrina Hope at our graduation ceremony. My eyes welled up like a proud parent, and the smile was pasted on my face for the rest of the morning. People recognize what we are trying to accomplish, and that is half of the battle.

On another note, I would like to express congratulations to three of our Project: Katrina Hope insiders on recent accomplishments. Both Brandon and Jeff earned bachelors degrees, and Shannon has accepted a television job in South Carolina. This is just another opportunity for some talented people to share the message of hope across the country.

I am thankful for the places we have been thus far, and I can’t wait to see where we are next headed!

With hope,

Gretchen

Posted on June 4th, 2008 by Gretchen Wieland
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It is a week of reflection that has led me to this final post from the first week of filming in NOLA. What a difference five days with five incredible groups can make on one’s outlook. We accomplished so much, I was able to show Shannon some of the best parts of the city, and I have a renewed sense of hope for this region. 

I would like to thank the following people for one of the best weeks of my life:

First and foremost–the entire Briscoe family: I asked for a floor to sleep on and a place to shower, but what I got was so much more. From the room, to the excellent food, to the car-washing, and the great conversations, I am sincerely grateful for the incredible hospitality we were shown. You are genuinely amazing people, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything.

Shannon, my sidekick for the week: I hope that your “vacation” was everything you imagined it would be. There is no way I could have completed this week without your directions (detours), jokes, and sanity. I have begun to look over your footage from the week, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised. =) You have helped me bring an entirely new dimension to this documentary, and the organization as a whole, and I’m so thankful for your help and friendship.

To all of the groups from last week: Wow. You guys are incredible. Giving up your spring break to come and serve others is a big sacrifice, and I commend each of you for your efforts. Thank you for allowing Shannon and I to invade your space for a day and, more importantly, for taking us in as one of your own. We both thoroughly enjoyed the conversations, the laughs, and the touching moments we shared with each of your groups. A special thanks to Kate from CSU; Ave from HWS; Kim from NCTC; Kyle, Gabe, and Fawn from Reed; and Joel from UW Hillel for all of your help coordinating our site visits throughout the week. I look forward to keeping in touch in the future about the end product-the documentary!

My other Project: Katrina Hope insiders: From the beginning, you have aided me in this endeavor, and last week was no exception. Thank you for thinking of Shannon and I and for all of your hard work to make the time in NOLA possible. I really appreciated the calls and text messages. =)

Last, but certainly not least–the supporters of Project: Katrina Hope: To say that I would not have been able to film the documentary without you is an understatement. This organization would not even be in existence if it was not for people who shared this vision of rebuilding the areas hit by the storms more than two and a half years ago. I thank you every chance I get, and I only hope this documentary will make you proud to say that you supported Project: Katrina Hope in the process.

Now, it’s time to begin planning the final trip in two months to meet with other groups, more residents, and prominent people in the area. If you know of any groups that will be traveling to the Gulf Coast at the end of May, direct them to Project: Katrina Hope!

With hope,
Gretchen

Posted on March 28th, 2008 by Gretchen Wieland
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I could not have asked for a better final work day here in New Orleans. Shannon and I met up with the University of Wisconsin Hillel group, and they joined forces with Hillel groups from Florida International and the University of Arizona. We found ourselves on Burgundy Street in the Ninth Ward, on a block with only three families back and destruction lingering like a bad odor. However, in the chilling silence, hope reigned supreme today. The groups painted two homes, both belonging to the same retired couple (the daughters had lived in the second home before Katrina). The Hillel groups worked very efficiently to finish painting, and the woman was greeted with 30 or so smiling, paint-covered faces…and a brand new look to her home. Here’s a bit of their work:

This couple, the Gabriels, could not express their thanks enough for the work these students had done, and they are hoping to move back in within a few weeks. The moment that stuck with me the most was when the groups took her around her home, showing her some of the work they had done. She beamed from ear to ear, explaining how they really were not forgotten in this storm and finished simply with, “This is a reminder that some people have hearts.” A few of the students began to tear up at this point, and it reminded me what this week was all about-making people aware of the gratitude that comes from volunteering in this region. This is the entire group of Hillel students, with the Gabriels, on their newly painted front porch:

As Shannon and I wrap up our last full day in New Orleans, I’m eternally grateful for everyone who has helped to make this trip a reality. I keep returning to that morning I woke up and e-mailed my parents with my “big idea” to help out, and the support from so many places continues to amaze me. Now, we’re going to enjoy our last few hours in the Big Easy.

With infinite amounts of hope,

Gretchen

Posted on March 21st, 2008 by Gretchen Wieland
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Shannon and I began the morning with eggs. No, we didn’t eat eggs for breakfast…someone egged my car. After a failed carwash and a makeshift scrubbing job, the worst part of our day was soon over, and we were able to meet the energetic and outspoken group from Reed College. Humorously, their houses were located between Pleasure St. and Humanity St., but it felt more like Hope St. The Reed group worked for ACORN with groups from Columbia University and Americorps. ACORN is a unique organization in that the residents supply the tools and paint, and the volunteers provide the manpower. It’s a great way for the two to connect on a personal level while rebuilding.

We were told an amazing story today that I just had to share: the group from Reed was painting a resident’s house yesterday when one of the members commented on how the fresh coat of paint gave the house a totally new look and looked inviting. The woman who owned the house came out of her FEMA trailer in the front yard and said, “You have no idea. I think I’m going to sleep in there tonight.” So, two and a half years after Katrina, she and her family slept in their house again for the first night, because it looked like home. Here is their newer home to the left and their current residence to the right:

In our down time this afternoon, I returned to the house I helped build with the group from my hometown last June. It was amazing to see it completed, with a fresh coat of paint and just waiting for a family to move in.

The motivated group
from Reed College.

Tonight, Shannon and I are planning on meeting up with the HWS group from earlier in the week to visit the French Quarter. We have been so grateful to have such enthusiastic and inviting groups this week–it has truly exceeded my expectations.

Posted on March 20th, 2008 by Gretchen Wieland
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