Volunteer Testimonials

More from Patrick Hussey

In September of 2006 I had several weeks off from work, it just so happened that the first of those weeks fell on the same time as the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

It was a rainy end to August here in New York and I found myself glued to the television watching t.v. show after t.v. show about Hurricane Katrina and what was going on one year later, much as I did for September 11th here in New York. It’s sad to say, but it took an act like September 11th to really realize what people of other devastated areas must have felt or were going through at the time, like Oklahoma City and now New Orleans. Although the acts of devastation are tough to compare, there effects were still the same. People were in need, not sure were to turn and in need of rebuilding their lives. I realized then, that instead of sitting there on the couch watching stories about Hurricane Katrina, I could be down there in New Orleans helping rebuild and hopefully getting these families back in their homes.

That’s when I turned to the computer and through the beauty of the internet, I did a search for Volunteers in New Orleans. Craigslist came up, with various volunteer organizations vying for volunteers. Not to bash or take anything away from some of the larger, better known volunteer organizations, because they are all doing good things in New Orleans, but with a larger organization I would have felt like just another number and possible just got lost in the crowd. I think that’s what attracted me to the St Bernard Project. The St Bernard Project is a small upstart grass roots organization that didn’t have the brand name recognition that the larger organizations had. The St Bernard Project seemed like good people trying to do good things for the residents of New Orleans, that’s what I wanted to be a part of and is exactly what I found upon arrival in New Orleans.

My experience in the St Bernard Parish was a rewarding one. I worked with volunteers from all over the country, people I wouldn’t normally get the chance to meet in my everyday life. I was amazed to see, that without the help of the volunteers and organizations such as the St Bernard Project, not much else was being done to help the residents get back into their homes. These were great people doing good things and I was glad to be a part of that. It was also a pleasure to meet and see a part of New Orleans that most tourist do not get a chance to see, the residents. To hear their stories and to know that you were able to help them take the first step back into their home was one of great accomplishment. But the most rewarding experience came three weeks after I left and returned home.

Being in New Orleans, I knew I was doing something good, but to me it didn’t seem like such a great deal, I was just trying to do my part and help a few fellow citizens. Three weeks after I returned home I received letters from the families I had worked for. The gratitude and genuine kindness from these people through those letters was far more rewarding than anything I could have imagine. It wasn’t until than that I realized what I had really done and why I will return to help the people of St Bernard Parish.