Bound for New Orleans
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| Flooded community after Katrina |
For seven days and seven nights, a group of alumni and friends from across the country will leave the comfort of their homes to live in sparse conditions, working long hours for no pay in one of the nation’s most devastated areas. Twenty-four volunteers will take part in the Alumni Association’s New Orleans Home Building Community Service Trip from January 17 – 24.
Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005. When the levees protecting New Orleans eventually failed, the waters flooded 80% of the city as well as neighboring parishes. The hurricane was the largest natural disaster in U.S. history claiming the lives of over 1,800 people, displacing hundreds of thousands, wreaking havoc on the environment, and causing billions of dollars of damage.
The Alumni Association’s group will work on building and repair projects through HandsOn New Orleans, Phoenix of New Orleans, and lowernine.org. In addition, they will also participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service; an event that brings thousands of people together to participate in a wide range of service projects throughout the city.
| Julie Angelis Sodee '94 Patricia Bernard '83 Denise Bro ’74 Mary Custard '82, '87G Carl Flygare '80 Kristin Gennuso '91 Madeline Hobbs, guest of Jason Skinner Denise Johnson '77, '86G, 93G Christina Kalucki '78 Meghan Keefe '09 Judith Kelly '74 Dan Kenney '04 Sarah Koen '05 |
Charles Letourneau '72 John Murphy '65 Charles Paliocha '83 Nick Paliocha, guest of Charles Paliocha Mike Paliocha, guest of Charles Paliocha Armand Provencal, guest of Denise Johnson Alyssa Rocco '04 Anthony Schmitt '09 Kerri Simpson '03 Jason Skinner '09 William Welsh '57 |
Here’s what some of them are saying:
My husband and I retired to New Orleans a month before Katrina in 2005. Along with buying a home here in the spring of 2006, we’ve been enjoying the "Big Easy" life of food, music, festivals, and art! I've done some volunteer teaching work for Junior Achievement, but also want to work with the rebuilding effort. When I received the email about the UMass Alumni Association organizing the work week, it was a perfect opportunity for me to get involved. - Denise (Denny) Bro '74
I was down in New Orleans in June 2009 where I had a chance to talk to some firemen who participated in a house to house search post-Katrina, and to tour some of the devastated areas of the city. There is much yet to be done so there is no end to the projects that we might tackle. I’m looking forward to the challenge. The UMass Amherst Alumni Association leadership is to be commended for spearheading this effort. I am a recently retired attorney that worked in the federal sector so I am looking forward to the opportunity of rolling up my sleeves and helping in any way I can. - John Murphy '65
I went to New Orleans for the first time last year. While there, I took a Hurricane Katrina tour and I was so saddened by what I saw that I vowed to look into a community service trip. Not long afterwards, I saw the Alumni Association community service trip announced. Helping others is the best way I know to take oneself out of the center of the universe and make a difference in the world. - Julie Angelis '94
I can't wait to meet everyone! - Kerri Simpson ’03
As I have family in New Orleans whose home was renovated, I am especially touched by the compassion of each volunteer. I am still outraged and hurt by our government's lack of/slow response to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. What happened to the people of New Orleans is almost unbelievable because we live in the USA. Four and a half years later, this will be my third time volunteering for a work week in New Orleans and there is still so much to be done. I've met wonderful volunteers from all over the world, who alongside the people of New Orleans, are helping to rebuild it. Volunteering in New Orleans is a wonderful and painful experience at the same time. Thank you so much to all those joining the Alumni Association in this important endeavor! - Mary E. Custard '82, '87G
I went through a long period of unemployment in the early 1990's (Remember: "It's the economy, stupid!). So I have an appreciation that times can get tough for folks. I live in Louisiana and I have seen first hand what hurricanes Katrina and Rita have done. I have a house in Acadia Parish and I also have a house in New Orleans where I will be staying for the week. So I also have a personal interest in helping in Louisiana. - Carl Flygare ’80
by Elena Lamontagne