new orleans2

““You walk to a back bedroom. There on the door hangs a You walk to a back bedroom. There on the door hangs a shirt that someone was going to wear the next day. You shirt that someone was going to wear the next day. You reach to remove it, but realize it has fused itself to the door. reach to remove it, but realize it has fused itself to the door. You pry it off the door, leaving behind an imprint. The shirt You pry it off the door, leaving behind an imprint. The shirt and the door chemically fused together, creating a moment and the door chemically fused together, creating a moment frozen in time, a snapshot of the scar left by the storm. A frozen in time, a snapshot of the scar left by the storm. A moment to reflect on the family that lived here and the moment to reflect on the family that lived here and the person who once wore this shirt. A question races through person who once wore this shirt. A question races through your head, why has this home not been touched for 18 your head, why has this home not been touched for 18 months?”months?”

We gutted four homes in four different We gutted four homes in four different neighborhoods during our week in New Orleans.neighborhoods during our week in New Orleans.

Some of our team also went out with a mobile Some of our team also went out with a mobile medical unit to provide basic care in some of the medical unit to provide basic care in some of the poorest, devastated neighborhoods.poorest, devastated neighborhoods.

We woke up each morning at 6:30am and were at We woke up each morning at 6:30am and were at our meeting point by 8 a.m. We finished up each our meeting point by 8 a.m. We finished up each day around 3:30 – 4pm with a reflection on our day around 3:30 – 4pm with a reflection on our work for the day.work for the day.

The following slides are the process and the hard The following slides are the process and the hard work of gutting a home down to the studs in one work of gutting a home down to the studs in one day!day!

We survey the home before we start We survey the home before we start work for the day.work for the day.

The KitchenThe Kitchen

Laundry room and bathroomLaundry room and bathroom

The work begins.

By MiddayBy Midday

At the end of the dayAt the end of the day

Contents from the homeContents from the home

The debris pile is about 60 feet long and in The debris pile is about 60 feet long and in some places over 6 feet tall.some places over 6 feet tall.

This is everything we could salvage This is everything we could salvage from this home.from this home.

The people we met wanted us to bring back their The people we met wanted us to bring back their story to you - to tell you that New Orleans is being story to you - to tell you that New Orleans is being rebuilt and they have hope for tomorrow…rebuilt and they have hope for tomorrow…

Everyone we met shared the same sentiment, Everyone we met shared the same sentiment, “Thank you. If it was not for all the volunteers who “Thank you. If it was not for all the volunteers who have come down to New Orleans like yourselves, have come down to New Orleans like yourselves, nothing would be getting done!” nothing would be getting done!”

The rebuilding has begun…The rebuilding has begun…

New Habitat homes…New Habitat homes…

New Habitat homes…New Habitat homes…

The French QuarterThe French Quarter

Everyone loves New Orleans CookingEveryone loves New Orleans Cookingand hot sauce…and hot sauce…

One of the families we met invited us to their home for a crawfish boil.

60 lbs!

We finished all the crawfish…We finished all the crawfish…

So we got beads…So we got beads…

There is a lot more work to be done in New There is a lot more work to be done in New Orleans and a lot of questions still to be Orleans and a lot of questions still to be answered…answered…

Through our experience we were able to help a Through our experience we were able to help a few people to begin to rebuild their lives and few people to begin to rebuild their lives and keep the story of the people of New Orleans keep the story of the people of New Orleans alive.alive.

Volunteers and donations are still greatly Volunteers and donations are still greatly needed in New Orleans. needed in New Orleans.

Thank you! Thank you! To the Duquesne To the Duquesne

University Women’s Guild University Women’s Guild for funding this service for funding this service

trip to New Orleans trip to New Orleans through the Spring through the Spring

Fashion Show Luncheon.Fashion Show Luncheon.