Wheaton students and staff volunteer in New Orleans
January 17, 2007
Click here to read a New Orleans Perspective by Molly Galdston '09.
Although out of the daily media, New Orleans and its surrounding areas continue to recover and rebuild after the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina. Wheaton students and staff witnessed the destruction first hand during a January-break volunteer mission to help rebuild communities near New Orleans.
Thirty-two students and two staff members volunteered with the Nazarene Disaster Response, an international organization that is helping to restore the Gulf Coast region. The group spent a week refurbishing five local parks in New Orleans suburbs where rebuilding has been slow. At night, the group met with local officials in order to better understand the devastation and needs of the area.
Laura Tschop '07 was the original mastermind behind the trip, and joined forces with committee members Caitlin Amos '10, Nichole Hunter '09 and Greta Phillips '09. The student-led group began planning last fall, and raised more than $18,000 through on-campus fundraising and community support. The goal was to make the trip expense-free for the volunteers.
Wheaton's Office of Service, Spirituality and Social Responsibility (SSSR) supported students in organizing this mission, and plans to coordinate a similar relief effort next year. Prior to this trip, the Wheaton community responded to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, including sending money and supplies. Several students also have traveled to the Gulf Region to volunteer.
"This inspiring team of students and staff truly embodies Wheaton's commitment to the transformative combination of education and service," said Vereene Parnell, Associate Dean of the Office of Service, Spirituality and Social Responsibility. "I am immensely impressed and grateful for the hard work of the Wheaton volunteers. We must continue to support those who are still rebuilding, and it is wonderful that Wheaton can be part of this important mission."
Staff volunteers Ryan Henke, from SSSR, and Helen Williams, from the Filene Center for Work and Learning, joined the Wheaton students. "It was a life changing experience for many," Henke said. "The students were tenacious and conducted themselves in a very responsible way. They were all extremely invested in the work and wanted to make an impact."
Rebuilding five parks allowed the group to dig in, literally. They picked up debris, painted playground equipment, mowed lawns and created baseball fields. For the children still living in the Gentilly area, there has been no place to get outside since the hurricane hit in 2005. Having outdoor space again meant a great deal to the families trying to rebuild. It was a reminder of what once was, and gave hope for the future.
"When I met local children and families, it really hit me that what we were doing was important and made a difference, even if on a small scale," Nichole Hunter said. "They wanted to share their stories and let us know they are still here, even if many of their neighbors are not."
Most of the students and staff were strangers before the trip, but now, have a great bond. They intend on sharing their story this semester with the Wheaton community, in hopes of bringing awareness and action to the Gulf Coast region. "The trip was amazing," David Croft '07 said. "It really changed the way I look at the world."
The Wheaton volunteers include: Caitlin Amos, Nichole Hunter, Greta Phillips, Laura Tschop, Morgan Bemis, Sam Brown, Sherri Conklin, Nina Connolly, David Croft, Dania Diaz, Joseph Donahue, Molly Galdston, Meg Donnelly, Kestrel Dunn, Ryann Galloway, Oneda Horne, Lindsey Johnson, Marina Kuzina, Anna Littlehale, Rebecca Lordan, Melissa Lozano, Jessie Meisner, Beth Mellors, Erin-Claire Michaels, Maya Milic-Strkalj, Ashley Pillsbury, Michelle Portilla, Stephanie Redfield, Michelle Riccio, Eben Stickney, Gregory Thompson and Emily White. Staff members include: Ryan Henke and Helen Williams.