Posted on November 29, 2007
Trip co-leader junior Justin Broughman went on the Thanksgiving Break relief trip to New Orleans because he said he could not justify going down last year and never going back when there were still people in need.
“I don’t believe in ignoring people in need or saying it’s someone else’s responsibility,” he said.
Broughman and the 105 volunteers did more than just gutting and reconstructing buildings, they spent time getting to know the community and listening to the residents’ stories.
“For any person you talk to it is an emotional experience for them and for you,” said Broughman.
Broughman met a man named Wayne who lived in the lower 9th ward and worked as a landscaper before the storm. Broughman said Wayne was very proud to talk abouthis five bedroom, two bathroom house. Once the storm hit, his entire house washed away and Wayne did not receive any reimbursement from his insurance company. Wayne now lives in a gutted out house, with only a few sets of clothes and a sleeping bag to his name and is unable to find work. Wayne told Broughman he had not eaten for three or four days before coming to the shelter on Thanksgiving for the free meal the volunteers served to approximately 1,000 community members.
Broughman also met a man named John Wilkes Booth. Booth and his wife lost their entire home in St. Bernard’s Parish during the storm. He told Broughman that seven of his closest friends committed suicide after the storm because they had nothing left to live for.
Freshman Josh Shaheen talked to a couple who lived in New Orleans their entire lives and have two five-year-old children. The family was forced to live in their van for two weeks after the Hurricane before moving to Norfolk, Virginia. Shaheen said they are living in a trailer now and waiting for their house to be rebuilt so they can return to New Orleans.
Despite the despair of many victims, the volunteers witnessed two families move back into their houses built by Habitat for Humanity in the Musicians Village. Broughman said it was a moving experience when they finally got their home back.
While they met a lot of victims, the participants were inspired by other volunteers as well.
Slade met a man from New England named Iray who came down three years ago to volunteer for a week right after the storm. He told her he couldn’t leave after a week so he stayed a couple more weeks. Iray felt so compelled to stay and help that he went home, closed his bank accounts, and moved to New Orleans to become a permanent volunteer there. Slade said St. Bernard’s Parish attributes their ability to come back to him and described Iray as the happiest man she has ever met.
“Iray took what we are doing to the next level,” she said.
On their last night in New Orleans the group participated in a reflection that lasted for three hours. The National Relief Network asked individuals to stand up and share what they learned and heard.
“You think back about what you did, [it] really moves you and touches you,” Broughman said, adding that it is a very stressful event because people from New Orleans like to vent and are very emotional about their stories. “[It’s] hard to combine anger with sympathy…you must think about everything they’ve been through.”
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