More help is needed at Gulf Coast

Last month, as midterm break neared and many excited Bona's students talked about plans of partying, traveling or just relaxing at home, I wondered what I would do with my break. I knew I could use a good solid week off to wind down after rushing in a few midterms and projects before break.I never envisioned that I would find myself walking the streets of Enterprise, amid the wreckage of a tornado, or living in Mississippi, meeting new people and building houses along the beach. I definitely never thought I'd see New Orleans.

During break, I got to do all of these things. A spur-of-the-moment decision allowed me to join BonaResponds for a trip to rebuild the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, with a little side-trip on the way. Because of the group's previous reputation, the people of Enterprise, Ala., called and asked if we could help rebuild their tornado-ravaged town.

Arriving just 48 hours after the tornado hit, we went door-to-door, offering our assistance. From picking up branches, sawing trees, moving couches or just listening to residents' amazing stories, we did a little of everything.

The most fulfilling part of the experience was seeing the genuine appreciation of the residents. They were totally awestruck that we came all the way from the Buffalo area to help them in their time of need. It was by far one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Upon my return to school, many people have asked me if there is still work that needs to be done down there. After all, the hurricane hit 18 months ago, and people have moved on, haven't they?

From my observations, the only people that have moved on are the ones that were lucky (or unlucky) enough to have stayed in their neighborhoods. In Bay St. Louis, Miss., an estimated 70 percent of people had abandoned their homes, and 40 percent are expected never to return. Even the people that have stayed are having trouble finding where to begin.

Our first day there, my group gutted a bar that hadn't even been touched since the hurricane. Everywhere we looked, tiny Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers served as homes for residents. These trailers were supposed to have been removed 12 months ago, but the conditions are still so unlivable that the government can't take them away. Worse than that, the people that haven't received trailers have been living in tents on their lawns for over a year.

Move on? How do you move on when your neighborhood has been under water for almost six months, like the Ninth Ward of New Orleans? As we drove into the city, I saw how the outlying areas remained almost completely untouched - an entire neighborhood in ruins because of horrid conditions and lack of people to help.

Though many people have picked up and left the Gulf Coast, steadfast volunteers have stepped up to help. Full-time volunteers team up with groups such as BonaResponds to assign people to jobs that can foster not only a sense of accomplishment, but a personal relationship with the people of the community.

Through BonaResponds, I met some of the nicest people that I never knew attended St. Bonaventure. By the end of the trip, I felt like I had a second family. The friends I made were special because of the simple fact that we helped contribute to the revival of a community.

This May, BonaResponds will return to the Gulf Coast to develop the communities there and chip away at the much-needed rebuilding of New Orleans. If you are looking to make a difference, enjoy the hot sun and warm weather, or just want to make new friends and have fun, I suggest you go.

After all, the people there really do need us.


e-mail: spechtcj@sbu.edu