As the 5th Anniversary Approaches...

I have been watching bits of coverage here and there about the 5th anniversary of Katrina. I don't know how to express my feelings, other than to write a bit. I watch the videos and listen to the coverage and I am overcome with amazement at how much people can endure. I am reading the book Nine Lives by Dan Baum, I am almost done with it and it truly gives you such a sense of what the heart of NOLA is. What people endure and how they come out of it is truly amazing.

When we delivered supplies to Chicago Public Schools a week ago, I was amazed at the appreciation and the total heart that the staff at the schools put into each day. I wished I could have that same spirit. When faced with some of the worst parts of our society, racism, child abuse, and more, these wonderful educators continue on to make the best of what the day brings and to provide a smiling face to children who so desperately need it.

I am enduring my own struggles as we all do, and I wonder if I can be as strong as those who have survived so much, my own problems seem so minor when you look at what so many have had to overcome or succumb to. Yet none of us should diminish our own lives, we should take a bit of the courage we seen in others and step in and let it wash over us. As we move forward as New Orleans is, we should be able to harness the drive and motivation that has brought us all to where we are today.

Another successful delivery:)

I finally have a chance to sit down and blog a bit about our trip to NOLA this year. I find the work we do exhilarating and yet I entered this trip with apprehension. Unsure as to whether this would be our last trip to deliver supplies to NOLA or not. After all the hurdles we had to overcome to make a successful trip, I was not sure what we would encounter once we were down there. I, of course, was pleasantly surprised, the volunteers were all wonderful and ventured out happily into the hot New Orleans sun.

Me, my mom, my sister Danielle, my daughter Ashley, my cousin Katie, friends Dick, Len, Bruce and his wife Marilyn, and John, all left at 5AM on Sunday in 2 SUV's. We took turns driving and sleeping:) We made good time down to NOLA, making stops only for gas and food. Once in NOLA, we checked into the Wyndham Whitney and then ventured out for dinner at nearby Landry's (a frequent SCC stop). While out, my cousin April arrived from Houston. Once we all were back at the hotel, we planned for the next day and then were off to a full nights sleep. I had been diagnosed with bronchitis on Friday so had some great medicine to put me into a peaceful slumber:)

Monday morning at 6:30 we were all up and ready to go! We had a quick breakfast on the run and then headed for the rental truck place and the warehouse. The supplies we loaded up in Mokena, were waiting to be unloaded when the warehouse opened in NOLA. The crew at the warehouse was great and they quickly unloaded the semi and loaded up the 3 rental trucks. While we were there our dear friend Kate from RHINO (www.scapc.org/RHINO) joined us for the day.

And we were off, by 10AM we were delivering supplies and the sun was hot and heavy as the temperature was over 90! We delivered to 7 schools, we had a caravan of two SUV's and 2 rental trucks. At each stop, we had paperwork to be signed by the school and then we have to figure out where to unload the trucks. Sometimes we could set items inside the door, sometimes we had to go up several flights of stairs, and sometimes down stairs. Each school received 1 or 2 pallets of brand new school supplies. One school even received over $3,000 in musical instruments.

One or two people got into the back of the trucks and then the rest of us carried the items, that they unloaded off the pallets, into the school. At several schools the principals came out to thank us and tell us how long the supplies lasted in the past and how appreciative they were of our efforts. One school even had several teachers who came out to thank us. Truly rewarding to provide these supplies to both students and teachers. After we returned one rental truck and picked up another we all headed back to shower and relax. Dick provided us with a wonderful dinner at Arnaud's followed by Beignet's at cafe Du Monde, before retiring for the night.

On Tuesday we delivered to 8 more schools although we did not rise quite so early. The heat was even more brutal today and thus the volunteers were very motivated to get it unloaded quickly so that we were finished by 2PM and missed the most brutal heat of the day. We had one unfortunate mishap with the roof of a truck and a tree that put a damper on things, but all in all a successful day. We lunched at our favorite NOLA Pizza place, Reginelli's on Magazine and had dinner at Nacho Mama's next door to that.

Wednesday morning the alarm went off at 4:30 and by 5:10 we were on our way home. The days in NOLA fly by and I never have enough energy to truly enjoy all the city has to offer. Yet each visit offers something special, this trip allowed me to share the importance of volunteering with my mom, my sister, my daughter and my cousins. Something that I find as rewarding as the school supplies themselves. So, as I close out this evening, I reflect on this trip and look forward to the next. I wonder how delivering supplies to Chicago Public Schools will compare, will I find the fulfillment I have in NOLA each year? Will I be able to bring the feelings of accomplishment and yet need to do more back to my classroom? Will I be able to inspire others to accomplish the desperately needed work in out public schools?

Stay tuned...

Loading Tomorrow!

Last minute problems are arising one by one, but we are working through them as we speak. If anyone knows a forklift driver I could use one. Two volunteers are unable to come but we continue plugging along and I know that we will be successful in loading all these supplies for the children of NOLA. See you tomorrow!