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Alternative Spring Break 2007 - New Orleans For "Alternative Spring Break" of 2007, we had ten people travel to New Orleans to spend their break from school volunteering to help others in need. Our group worked with Community Collaborations International (CCI), to help serve in the disaster relief for those affected by hurricane Katrina. CCI helps volunteers find service opportunities and they also provide staff onsite to manage and support any work being done (http://communitycollaborations.org). Even though we were only volunteering for about a week, our group was still able to serve in a variety of ways. During our time in New Orleans we stayed in an elementary school at St. Bernard's Parish, which had been converted to house volunteers while working. Our first task once we arrived was to help construct bunk beds so volunteers would have a place to sleep. After finishing this, we started work on our main project of the week. Our group worked on the restoration of a flooded school that would serve as the base point to house construction materials for homes being built in nearby communities. After a couple days of clearing out bleachers, metal siding and concrete walls, we partnered with Habitat for Humanity and helped construct sheds for new homes that had been built for displaced New Orleans musicians. Our last endeavor was at Animal Rescue New Orleans. Our group helped clean the facilities, walk animals, and organize supplies for the shelter. Although we went to New Orleans a year and a half after hurricane Katrina had hit, the devastation was still very apparent. Our group wasn't sure what to expect, but we jumped in and served every way we knew how. Not only did we physically see the progress we had made over the week, but we also learned about the culture and events that had taken place from talking to locals and other volunteers. We had people in our group that didn't know each other before going on the trip, but we all came back with new friends and stronger relationships with those we did know. Looking back on the work we did and the time we spent volunteering, it may only look like a drop in the bucket of what needed and still needs to happen in that area. However, as we witnessed while we were there, when a bunch of smaller groups get together, they do have a significant impact. Not only did we help out others, but I think everyone who went would agree, we came back with an experience that changed us for the better. I know schedules get busy and it can seem hard to find time to go on trips like this one, but making the effort to go volunteer is worth the sacrifice and will prove to be a rewarding experience. MAIN > TRIPS > PAST > New Orleans SB '07 |