NBC29Rebuilding New Orleans: 60 Local Volunteers Journey to the Big Easy (Part 2)

Rebuilding New Orleans: 60 Local Volunteers Journey to the Big Easy (Part 2)

Reported by Dana Hackett
November 21, 2006 

The efforts of local volunteers are being felt miles away. In our special series, NBC29's Dana Hackett takes viewers to one of the hardest hit sections of New Orleans: the Upper Ninth Ward. There, you will see how a group of volunteers from Charlottesville are making a difference.

More than a year after Hurricane Katrina hit, you can still see the devastation across the city of New Orleans. Piles of rubble are still left in the streets. Homes are gutted and empty and the cry for help is still evident. That's where Habitat for Humanity volunteers are stepping in.

"I expected to see a whole lot more people living in their homes again. But it's just block after block of homes that are uninhabited," said Habitat volunteer Angela Breaud. 

The signs of life are almost non-existent--a dog here, a pigeon there--and just a handful of families that have come back and decided to rebuild in a neighborhood that Hurricane Katrina washed away.

"Just by coming here, you're giving light to this entire community" volunteers were told. After traveling from Charlottesville to New Orleans volunteers stand ready to make a change in a place that seems to resemble a ghost town.

"We wanted to help. We don't have a lot of money, we don't have a lot of time but it's just a week, ya know?" shared one volunteer. 

After a rundown of the day's work and a morning prayer, the work starts. This group will focus their efforts on two homes located on Desire Street. It's a place that's anything but desireable.

The day begins at 7:30 a.m. with sweeping, painting and cutting wooden boards that will be used to build steps. It's a team effort to get as much done as possible in a short amount of time. They're picking up the pieces of what Katrina has shattered and putting them back together.

"Our goal is to complete about 50 homes either ready to move into or at least under construction by Christmas time," stated Ken Francois, project manager. 

The Charlottesville volunteers are joined by other volunteers this week as they work to construct homes in Habitat's Musicians' Village. Some volunteers come from New Orleans, like Denis Boimare.

"It can get to you after awhile because you just ride around and things are getting better, but in some places, it's almost like things haven't changed yet," said Boimare. 

But a change is coming and these volunteers may be the hands that turn the tide, making sure the hopes and dreams of families who used to live here don't blow away.

"We're going to go back to C'ville and tell everyone, you need to do this... It's an amazing experience," said one volunteer. 

Volunteers will be doing construction work everyday, except on Thanksgiving. On that day, they'll spend time volunteering locally by distributing Thanksgiving dinner to those who are forced to go without.

The group will return to Charlottesville on Saturday.