2008 Service Trip to New Orleans

As we were driving home today, I had the opportunity to reflect on everything that we got to do this week. Looking back, the trip seems to mesh together in a whirlwind of driving (and getting lost!), volunteering, and exploring the city. One thing that stands out, however, is the way in which the people of New Orleans talk about their experiences. Every person that I came across through both volunteer work and social interaction had a unique and different story to tell. From the Wake alumna that took us to a spectacular dinner on Saturday night to the residents of St. Bernard’s Parish, we collected so many personal memories and stories. I’ll never forget how proud those people were of their city, and how proud they were of us for helping them to rebuild it. A common thread I came across in conversations with New Orleaneans I was volunteering with was the disappointment and frustration they felt with their local, state, and national government. I really sensed a feeling of abandonment, which makes perfect sense. Instead of being bitter and angry, though, they did nothing except lavish praise on us for the small amount of work that we were able to do. With all that said, I think that the most valuable effort I was able to contribute to the city of New Orleans was to provide an ear for people to talk to. Yes we pulled weeds and hung sheet rock and cleaned yards and distributed food, but the most important work we did was to help heal the emotional wounds that linger in New Orleans. Like the beads which hung from the trees along Napoleon Avenue near our house, a deep feeling of grief and frustration still resides in the Crescent City, and I can only hope that our week there did something to alleviate that feeling for the residents we came into contact with.

Today was probably the most exciting day I’ve had on the trip so far. After getting up bright and early, we all headed to St. Bernard’s Community Center where we spent most of the morning restocking shelves and organizing clothes. Around lunchtime several members of the group had the opportunity to chat with a local resident who told us her moving and tragic story. After speaking with her for some time, eight of us followed her to her house and helped clean up a bit and hang some sheetrock.

More than anything, today’s work made me realize just how much work was needed and how important every single volunteer is. As we rode through portions of St. Bernard’s Parish on our way to the Community Center and to the house we worked on, I couldn’t stop myself from staring out the window at the empty houses and damaged neighborhoods. Perhaps even more unsettling were the empty and gutted stores. It’s easy to forget as we watch news coverage of natural disasters and devastation on television that there are real people behind the faces and names. Today helped me begin to appreciate the reality of the situation. I was so excited after experiencing these emotions to be able to really do some work helping out. There’s so much need in New Orleans, and it’s difficult to get volunteers to the right places, but our work today really felt “right.” Before coming to New Orleans, I had convinced myself from the news coverage and articles I had read that the city would never be the same again. Tonight, however, I really have a feeling that this city will be thriving one day, and it will be because of the efforts like our group took today: working on one house at a time in one neighborhood at a time.