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Students spend break helping others in New Orleans

Contributed by: St. Mary's Academy on 5/6/2008

For the second year in a row, students and teacher chaperones from St. Mary's Academy traveled to New Orleans to help rebuild the city. Twenty-eight students gave up their Spring Break to help those in need, more than twice as many as last year. The group worked with Habitat for Humanity New Orleans and lent their strength and their hearts to projects including re-painting, trim work, installing installation, prepping attics and roofing.

"I took a group again this year because there was interest. The girls wanted to go. We had a group of 12 last year and 28 expressed interest this year. We originally wanted to keep it capped at 12, but I couldn't. I couldn't say 'no, you can't give up your Spring Break to come build houses for people in New Orleans.' They wanted to go and I wanted to make it work," said Amber Smith, St. Mary's Academy Community Service Director and trip organizer.

Much of the landscape around New Orleans has improved since their trip last year, but the students felt there is still a lot of work to be done. "It's definitely difficult to see the struggle to renew and rebuild that persists in New Orleans today. But at the same time it's promising to know that other people from all over have found it within themselves to work together and continue making a difference for those still recovering from the devastation," said Kelsey, a St. Mary's Academy graduate who participated in the service trip last year. Kelsey is in her first year at St. Louis University and re-joined the group from St. Mary's Academy in New Orleans during her Spring Break.

A typical day for the students began early and finished late. Students were exhausted but inspired to continue to do the work they knew needed to be done. Their duties were different this time, but the desire they had to help those in need remained the same. "This year we did more cleaning up after the storm and preparing houses to be rebuilt. I absolutely loved actually working on a house that I knew would for sure be a home to someone," said senior Alix.

The students put their hearts and souls, as well as intense physical labor, into each day's job. "Today was a day of observation and hard work. My hands are tired and sore from pounding nails under the southern sun. Although my body is in pain, I cannot compare my pain to that of the people who live here. Their stories are unimaginable. I walk through the streets trying to picture their houses drowning in fierce floods and my mind recalls what I saw on the news. Stranded for three days on a roof watching my belongings being washed away by an infinite 'ocean'-I can't even conceive of it," wrote senior Blair Anne on the group's blog.

Last year, the group from St. Mary's Academy focused their energies on cleaning up the house of a New Orleans resident named Lucille. Since many of the students this year had participated before, making a trip to Lucille's house to see how much more progress had been done was a top priority. "I wonder how Lucille's house will look. I can't even begin to imagine trying to get through a week of strenuous work if we see her (Lucille's) house and it's been untouched since we left," said Kelsey before leaving for New Orleans.

Upon their arrival at Lucille's house this year, the group was thrilled to see the progress that had been made on the property. "All of a sudden there it was, Lucille's house. It was beautiful. Fresh white paint and brilliant red trim sparkled the entirety of the exterior. Her once overgrown garden was filled with blooming flowers and out front the lawn was garnished with a new tree. As I tried to fully take in this true testimony of what can be accomplished when people give 100 percent of themselves in order to make a difference in someone else's life, I couldn't help but cry," reflected Kelsey.

Before leaving New Orleans, the St. Mary's Academy group was already making plans to return next year over Spring Break. "While there are amazing volunteers who have given up part of their lives to work and live there, there is still so much to be done," said Alix.


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

St. Mary's Academy

Englewood , CO

St. Mary's Academy has posted 419 stories and 0 comments since joining on 10/25/2005. St. Mary's Academy's average story rating is 4.96.
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