NBC29Rebuilding New Orleans: 60 Local Volunteers Journey to the Big Easy (Part 5)

Rebuilding New Orleans: 60 Local Volunteers Journey to the Big Easy (Part 5)

Reported by Dana Hackett
November 24, 2006 

Thanksgiving has passed and now Christmas is just weeks away. But not everyone will have a Merry Christmas.

In the final installment of the "Rebuilding New Orleans" series, NBC29's Dana Hackett brings us the story of one volunteer who's spreading some holiday cheer.

As the holidays approach, they'll be anything but happy for families who are left with nothing, following Hurricane Katrina. But now, there's a way you can help make their holidays happier.

An old elementary school--transformed into a place of hope--a place called "Camp Hope." "They're rebuilding it. Thank God for that because we love St. Bernard," said Helen Ducayag, who resides at St. Bernard. 

It's a place where Habitat for Humanity volunteers find shelter as they work to rebuild a place shattered by Hurricane Katrina. Their work is helping keep hope alive for people like Helen Ducayag, her niece and her nephew.

"Thank God for Mama Sue. She's an angel of glory here in St. Bernard helping everyone," stated Ducayag. 

Susan Collins, or "Mama Sue" as they call her, is helping keep smiles on the faces of residents who literally have nothing. She began as a temporary volunteer but her stay became more permanent in June.

"We have actually moved here. We no longer have a home. We live here," revealed Collins. 

Susan helps feed families in St. Bernard's parish and this holiday season she'll be doing a little more. She's trying to spread holiday cheer. "The reindeer and all the music and stuff...they don't have that here. So maybe they can have all the reindeers and their Santa Clause and their bells right here," explained Collins. 

Collins has put together a Christmas project where she's asking people across the country to sponsor families in St. Bernard's parish for Christmas. The Christmas list has requests from 600 children. Sure, there's your typical request for toys or video games but some just want simple things like clothes, shoes or whatever they can get.

It's children like 10-year-old Ricky that need that help. Besides the fact that he lost everything to Hurricane Katrina.  "He's in very bad shape. He's got to have brain surgery at the end of this month. And we're trying to get him a trailer down here because god knows they need it...and they need it bad," shared Ducayag.

But Ricky is still hopeful that he'll have a Merry Christmas and Santa will come visit. "I'm not sure what I'm gonna get. Probably PlayStation 2 because I'm like, into video games a lot," he said. 

But in order for that to happen, Mama Sue needs your help. "They can send gifts cards from Wal-Mart. We have Dollar General and Family Dollar here and they have gift cards if they want to send a gift card," said Collins. "Send them some 'I love you' cards because they love it."

There are at least 40 families that still need to be sponsored for the holidays. You can help by making a monetary donation or by sending gifts.

You can sponsor a family by contacting Susan Collins at 530-510-7095. You can also email her at sbccms@aol.com. All gifts need to be received no later than December 10 so the families can get their gifts at a planned Christmas party on the December 16.