Senior Citizens’ Month in the Lower Nine
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September 10, 2014- This morning marked the celebration of Senior Citizens month at the Lower Ninth Ward Senior Center located at the site of Trinity Lutheran Church.
Eight Years
August 29, 2013- I was reminded this morning – as if I would have to be – that it has been eight years since Katrina changed the lives of people all along the Gulf Coast of the United States.
On Boston
April 16, 2013- Yesterday was a day of juxtapositions. The news was focused on what happened at the end of the Boston Marathon; the explosions and how many people were hurt. All sorts of questions were being asked about who may have done such a horrific act.
Making Progress Together
February 2, 2013- We continue to work in New Orleans East and in the Lower Ninth Ward, utilizing volunteers from across the country to refresh, renew, and recreate communities that have been stressed by multiple causes. There is a lot of work to do.
Stilt Houses in St. Bernard
Walt told me too of a couple whose house is on stilts – 17 feet off the ground. They lost their stairs. Since the couple is in their 80s they have a couple of different ways to get up to the house. There is a hand pulled elevator, and there is a ladder.
Déjà Vu
On Thursday as we were cleaning up the rear area of camp a man pulled up in a white pickup truck. He was in his mid 60’s and was looking for one of our work request forms. He was pretty emotional, trying to hold it all together as he said to me, "We just got things done, and the storm took my shed. I got no more money left. What am I gonna do?"
The Calm Before The Storm
The story that there is a storm ‘out there’ has been a major story since last Thursday. It has been a long time. It will hit seven years to the day since Katrina. There are questions about the levees and about all the preparations we have made. How will what we have done stand up to a storm? We will find out soon.
The Fire at Hubig’s Pies
Hubig’s was founded in 1922, survived the Great Depression and survived Katrina. One of the great shots early on was a group of nuns, the Sisters of the Holy Family, distributing Hubig’s Pies after the storm to people working on their homes and to volunteers who then were mucking out houses.
It Was All Worth It
The National Youth Gathering of the ELCA wrapped up this past weekend. The daughter of a friend of mine was a volunteer at the gathering. While... people who attended did great work at the gathering, one thing stood out for her.
Getting Work Done in the Lord’s Time
One of the leaders of a group of volunteers was concerned about what was going to happen with his group. They were scheduled to work on a house in need of repair...