Want to hear directly from the people we’ve worked with? Here are a few stories, statements, and sentiments from homeowners and volunteers.

 
Ms. Peggy Severe

Ms. Severe is a home owner in the Uptown area of New Orleans, in a working class neighborhood known as Leonidas. Her double shotgun took on at least 4 or
5 feet of water following Hurricane Katrina, as a result of both the 17th Street and London Avenue Canal breech.

Ms. Severe is a very strong woman that has a similar story to many. She has not received any money for insurance; she has not received any money from the Road Home Grant, after applying months ago, or any other assistance. Despite all of this, she stays positive as she lives in her trailer next to her home, caring for her two mentally disabled brothers. She also reaches out to her community to assist others in what ways she can. The first thing she focused on after the storm was getting her Salon, located behind her house, operational so that she could begin to make and save money to rebuild her home.

During Hands On Network’s Annual Conference (March 2007, held in New Orleans), AmeriCorps Alum members installed insulation and painted the exterior of the house, and money was raised to purchase her sheetrock.

On August 8th and 9th, 8 AmeriCorps VISTA members volunteered with HONO install drywall in the house.

In total, Hands On engaged over 100 volunteers over the course of 4 months.

Ms. Severe always makes sure that volunteers get a home cooked meal for lunch and has coffee waiting for them when they arrive.

She constantly expresses her gratitude for all that Hands On New Orleans has done for her and is a huge advocate for the organization.

She has volunteered her time and energy by cooking community dinner for all volunteers at HONO on numerous occasions, and also by helping cook lunch for over 100 volunteers and members of the cast and crew of Guiding Light in July 2007.

Hands On New Orleans has been able to provide some materials for Ms. Severe’s house as a result of a larger grant, and we hope to have her home livable again by Thanksgiving.

Ms. Severe has shown a tremendous amount of participation in the project and is able to keep her spirits high as the funds come to an end and the work gets closer to completion. However, she will be facing some large expenses in the next few months, as the house nears completion. These include interior paint, ceramic tile, doors, appliances (such as toilets, sinks, kitchen appliances), cabinets, and countertops.

The following is a list of work done by Hands On New Orleans volunteers at 2939 Leonidas:

• Finish-gutting
• Exterior paint
• Installing insulation
• Hanging sheetrock
• Mudding
• Repairing plaster ceilings
• Interior paint
• Hanging doors
• Installing windows (to be completed)
• Laying tile (to be completed)
• Refinishing hardwood flooring (to be completed)
• Installing kitchen cabinets
• Installing trim/baseboards (to be completed)

Ms. Evelyn Green

“ Yesterday, during the Katrina memorial service at the First Street United Methodist Church, I could hardly stop myself from crying. The testimonies from everyone were heartwarming, but, listening to the Hands On volunteers touched me more than anyone could imagine.

They talked about how much being here has meant to them and how their lives have been changed for the better from their experience, but that does not tell the whole story. My personal story is just one of many stories of people who have been affected by the hurricane. I did not know what I was going to do because my insurance company did not pay me enough to get my house back into livable conditions. My house was put on the waiting list for Hands On to have it gutted. I thought it would be months before they could get to my home. Within two days I got a call stating that Hands On would start on my home the next day. Promptly at 7:30 am they were at my house, twelve young people willing and eager to work. Now, it’s been HOT in New Orleans, but these young people still put on Tyvek© suits, masks and gloves and were armed with their hammers, shovels, and garbage cans. They worked in the heat for hours. The young men and women were bringing out garbage can after garbage can filled to the brim with plaster and wood. I said to one of them “baby, that’s too heavy for you to pick up.” She just laughed, said it wasn’t too heavy, and kept on working. My house is two stories high. They worked for three days. My story doesn’t end there; I needed the mold in my house treated and one volunteer told me that Hands On might be able to take care of it. Within a few days my mold was taken care of. Another blessing from Hands On! The reason I said that it doesn’t tell the whole story is that although they have gained from this experience, we are the ones who have benefited from them, more than they’ll ever realize. God sent them to us. What would we have done without them? My heart has been touched.”

With all my love,

Evelyn Green

Ms. Jessie Washington and Cathy Evans.

Cathy Evans is a very special volunteer who spent some time with HONO in April 2007. She was so touched by Ms. Jessie’s story that upon returning home to San Diego, she held a fundraising party, and raised over $2500 for Ms. Jessie, to go towards purchasing furniture and appliances in her newly restored home.

Hands On has been a light in my life, each and every person. They have made my life better every day and have given me a reason to go forward. Hands on gives a light to walk in this city. I thank God for this organization and the people I have met.”
-Ms. Jessie Washington

Ms. Jessie Washington lives in an area of New Orleans known as Gentilly Heights. Her modest house took on several feet of water following the hurricane when the London Avenue Canal levees breeched in two places. Ms. Washington is 65 years old. She worked all her life as a cosmetologist, and ran her own business out of her garage. Not only was her home completely damaged, but her business was destroyed as well. She didn’t have flood insurance, but got a little bit of insurance money for wind damage. She has applied for the Road Home Funds, but is still waiting to see if she is eligible. Her house was gutted by her son, as well as a hired house gutter. With the insurance money she did receive, and from her own savings, Ms. Washington attempted to get her house back in order.

While trying to rebuild, Ms. Washington was defrauded by three different contractors. Her plumber and electrician disappeared after being paid, leaving the work unfinished. The person hired to hang drywall left gaping holes in her walls and ceiling. Because of the shoddy work done by previous contractors, HONO volunteers spent months fixing mistakes and addressing crucial structural issues.

Volunteer Engagement at Ms. Jessie Washington’s House

After months of work and hundreds of volunteers, Ms. Washington’s house is finally livable again. Volunteer Engagement at Ms. Jessie Washington’s House Since April 2007, HONO has engaged over 150 volunteers in crews running 3-5 days a week, estimating $67,760 in labor. On August 1st and 2nd, 15 Americorps VISTA volunteers volunteered with HONO to paint the interior and exterior of Ms. Washington’s house.

These are photos of the damage to Ms. Jessie Washington’s house from Katrina	Photos of Ms. Jessie Washington’s house after the work of Hands On New Orleans’ volunteers

Volunteer Stories

My Days in a Tyvek Suit

Within a few hours of arriving in New Orleans I found myself in a van on my way to my first gut in Central City. The respirator took a second to get used to. “Is this thing on?” was all I could think as I entered the house in a bright white Tyvek suit, borrowed boots, goggles, gloves, respirator and a hard hat.

There was a huge trash pile in the front of the house and brown, rotted insulation everywhere inside. The heat made the insulation and everyone in the house sweat even more. My team leaders agreed that it was a tough first day.

At the end of the day I was exhausted. I tore off what was now a brown Tyvek to reveal my sweat ridden clothes underneath and threw it on the heap of wood and insulation. I could only think of water, the shower and the air conditioning.

The next day I was up at 6, woken by Green Day blaring in the bunk house and ready for another gut. Every gut after that has been physically easier.

I love that I have been able to teach new volunteers how to put on a respirator and how to get the best wear out of their Tyvek suit. Hands On treats all of their volunteers as leaders and because of that they produce some of the hardest working volunteers I have had the pleasure of working with. With varied skill levels and extremely high energy, the job always gets done.

I needed an answer to the helplessness. Friends and family weren't sure what I could possibly contribute one year after the storm. They were worried about my safety, that I might fall prey to some of the crime that has increased. They insisted that the people of New Orleans would be taken care of. The exact opposite is true. I feel better than safe at Hands On, because there is a community here that supports the well-being of each person on and off the worksite. This sense of community in rebuilding a city, and our neighborhood, is what has made my experience so genuine. The devastation of the storm is visible in every crevice of New Orleans. Central City, has one house after the other that is boarded, burned or otherwise afflicted by the storm. New Orleans is far from being the city it once was, but with organizations such as Hands On fostering their volunteers and creating opportunities for people all over the country to be a part of the revitalization, I have secured hope that there are capable hands leading the way.

Shannon

Houston , TX

Nebraska to New Orleans

After Katrina hit New Orleans I immediately started making plans to join the relief effort. I took a couple of disaster relief classes with a non-profit and geared up to quit my job so that I could help out indefinitely. Then, I sat waiting…and waiting and waiting. After months of getting tangled up in red tape, I realized that I needed to find another organization to volunteer with. Fortunately, I stumbled upon an article in the Omaha World-Herald about a Hands On Network volunteer's experience in New Orleans. I checked out the group's Web site and after contacting the volunteer coordinator, cut loose my five-year-old writing career and headed south.

I initially signed on for 10 days, but I've now been at Hands On for nearly five weeks. Without hesitation I can say that I've gotten more satisfaction out of these few weeks of my life than the past couple of years back home. The entire atmosphere is all about hard work, sharing, and keeping a positive attitude no matter the situation. The staff and New Orleans residents demonstrate their appreciation and gratitude every single day, and we accomplish so much with such a diverse group of people that I'm tempted to stay much longer. The people of New Orleans are fortunate to have a group like Hands On working here, and I think every volunteer who passes through feels lucky for having sacrificed their time to help with the recovery.

Nathan C.

Nebraska