Monday, March 14, 2011

SPRING BREAK 2011 kick-off


University of Central Florida shipped a team over to New Orleans the second week of March- consisting of many volunteers who had never been to NOLA before.  They spent the week painting for a Mr. Campbell (who treated them to yummy lunch food everyday- luckies!), and for Teen Challenge of New Orleans.  They were joined by a team from Pennsylvania- a group of gentlemen with one lady among them.  The Penn. team focused on a roofing job.  They found (as volunteers here in NOLA often do) that as they peeled back the layers of roof, they discovered more and more rotting wood and needed repairs.  They were up for the job though.

In addition to hard work, these teams enjoyed experiencing the multiple cultural facets of the city- from the ninth ward to the French Quarter and Uptown.  The excitement of being in New Orleans was at least doubled- as they came during the week of Mardi Gras!  Parades were running night and day and the streets were filled with party-goers.  An exciting time to be in the city.

Thanks so much to these two teams who kicked-off our spring break!

Thoughts for Pondering

The flood of volunteers that typically overtakes the city of New Orleans during spring break has not disappointed in 2011.  As I drive down the road I see multiple homes being restored and rebuilt by the generosity, sweat, and love of volunteers.  The home across the street from my office had volunteers working inside and outside last week.  When I passed them on Friday they were cheering and clapping- no doubt celebrating the accomplishment of bringing a home-owner much much closer to being back in their home.  Not just their house... their home.  Maybe they were the ones to put the finishing touches on the house and were handing the keys over to the homeowner.  Now that is definitely something to celebrate.  I wonder who that homeowner is.  I'm sure they have a story to tell- everyone does you know.  Not just stories about their experience through hurricane Katrina, but about their lives before and after.  I hope the volunteers were able to hear those stories.  They may have rebuilt a home, but they have made an impact on more than just the hurricane aftermath chapter of the homeowner's life.  The effects of their kindness will carry on through the rest of the homeowner's life.