Report from Jean
06/01/2006 18:20
Please
read this blog from Jean who was at Camp Casey in
August and
then at Veterans for Peace Hurricane relief in Covington in Sept.
Thanks Jean for all your hard work for peace and hurricane releif. We
need more like you!
http://bayoulibertyrelief.org/node/150
I, my son, and another teenaged friend went to LA/MS for spring break a month ago. We were able to be down for only 6 work days, but it was good to be able to do this much. They guys want to return this summer, I probably will wait until the weather cools off because I do not do well in the southern heat and humidity.
We worked at several places, got to see more and met many people.
First what we did for work: We spent time helping hang insulation and sheetrock at a house in E.Gentilly. I understand that the sheetrocking is done, on to tapping, mudding, painting, moving back in which will be very exciting. We tore the supra-flooring out of a house near Slidell. Ms. Catherine had just gotten in her FEMA trailer 1 wk before, and was going through what belongings survived the storm surge. We spent a day driving around Upper 9th Ward filling animal feeding and water stations for Animal Rescue New Orleans, another volunteer grassroots group. We spent a couple days in Chalmette at Emergency Communities Food for Love cafe/distribution. The guys cooked and moved tons of supplies while I sorted clothing in the free tent. We drove across the Mississippi coast, stopping in several places to see what was happening, meeting with a person I met online last yr and have sent supplies to, taking pictures and being amazed.
There was a rally at St. Augustine's church in New Orleans that we got to attend. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton both gave speeches and the Treme Band played wonderful music. Although I did not get to shake either's hand, it was exciting nonetheless to be at this happening. St. Augustine's got a reprieve, 18 months (if memory serves me right) before the church reviews to see if the building should be sold to another church.
We met many volunteers from all over the world, old, young, middle aged. Some were able to come for only a short time, some moved down semi-permanently. We met many residents trying to get their lives back together. Some were doing better than others, not only getting their lives back together but being able to deal with it all.
1 young adult was crying because the transmission of their car broke, a new one would be $600+, they were staying in the car and the police told them they had to move it or get it impounded. She had no idea where to get the money from or what to do, was going to talk to people at EC and see if anyone else had ideas.
If anyone is considering going down to help, please please please do so. The need is huge. News media, even those that still cover the disaster, do NOT show at all how it really is. If you wish to send supplies down, please check with Niki and Ken as to what is needed before shipping things. There are needs and non-needs and why waste your money sending down non-needs.
I am putting some other writings and articles on my blog,
http://healthcareforpeace.blogspot.com/
Thank you again Niki and Ken for keeping the camp going, for providing guidance in where to volunteer, and a quiet, peaceful place to stay, eat and shower for volunteers and a respite for those fried volunteers in need of a break.
then at Veterans for Peace Hurricane relief in Covington in Sept.
Thanks Jean for all your hard work for peace and hurricane releif. We
need more like you!
http://bayoulibertyrelief.org/node/150
I, my son, and another teenaged friend went to LA/MS for spring break a month ago. We were able to be down for only 6 work days, but it was good to be able to do this much. They guys want to return this summer, I probably will wait until the weather cools off because I do not do well in the southern heat and humidity.
We worked at several places, got to see more and met many people.
First what we did for work: We spent time helping hang insulation and sheetrock at a house in E.Gentilly. I understand that the sheetrocking is done, on to tapping, mudding, painting, moving back in which will be very exciting. We tore the supra-flooring out of a house near Slidell. Ms. Catherine had just gotten in her FEMA trailer 1 wk before, and was going through what belongings survived the storm surge. We spent a day driving around Upper 9th Ward filling animal feeding and water stations for Animal Rescue New Orleans, another volunteer grassroots group. We spent a couple days in Chalmette at Emergency Communities Food for Love cafe/distribution. The guys cooked and moved tons of supplies while I sorted clothing in the free tent. We drove across the Mississippi coast, stopping in several places to see what was happening, meeting with a person I met online last yr and have sent supplies to, taking pictures and being amazed.
There was a rally at St. Augustine's church in New Orleans that we got to attend. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton both gave speeches and the Treme Band played wonderful music. Although I did not get to shake either's hand, it was exciting nonetheless to be at this happening. St. Augustine's got a reprieve, 18 months (if memory serves me right) before the church reviews to see if the building should be sold to another church.
We met many volunteers from all over the world, old, young, middle aged. Some were able to come for only a short time, some moved down semi-permanently. We met many residents trying to get their lives back together. Some were doing better than others, not only getting their lives back together but being able to deal with it all.
1 young adult was crying because the transmission of their car broke, a new one would be $600+, they were staying in the car and the police told them they had to move it or get it impounded. She had no idea where to get the money from or what to do, was going to talk to people at EC and see if anyone else had ideas.
If anyone is considering going down to help, please please please do so. The need is huge. News media, even those that still cover the disaster, do NOT show at all how it really is. If you wish to send supplies down, please check with Niki and Ken as to what is needed before shipping things. There are needs and non-needs and why waste your money sending down non-needs.
I am putting some other writings and articles on my blog,
http://healthcareforpeace.blogspot.com/
Thank you again Niki and Ken for keeping the camp going, for providing guidance in where to volunteer, and a quiet, peaceful place to stay, eat and shower for volunteers and a respite for those fried volunteers in need of a break.