From the Field: Stay up-to-date on Operation Blessing’s ongoing Katrina recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast states. Want to help? Volunteer opportunities are available now in New Orleans! Most Popular Blogs "Angels" come to the rescue of Katrina victim Summer Camp helps children cope with Katrina Tiny fish continue to tackle mosquito population More Blogs New ramp helps 91-year-old Katrina victim Medical staff aid handicapped man in clinic's parking lot College students plan future trips to help Katrina victims Katrina Video & Photo Galleries Photos: Ribbon cutting celebrates new medical clinic Photos: Katrina in progess Video: Operation Blessing News Streams on Katrina

Tiny fish continue to tackle mosquito problem

Saturday, June 3, 2006
NEW ORLEANS – OBI's volunteer "Bug Busters" continue to tackle a potential outbreak of mosquito-born diseases such as West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis by planting Gambusia - small mosquito-eating fish - in abandoned pools scattered throughout the post-Katrina city.

Working side by side with members of the New Orleans Mosquito and Termite Board since April, OBI has funded and placed thousands of fish in contaminated pools throughout the city.

The New Orleans Mosquito and Termite Board has inspected more than 4,000 pools, and stocked the abandoned ones with Gambusia. Steve Sackett, research entomologist and field superintendent for the New Orleans Mosquito Board, anticipates the project will be continued throughout the summer since new pools are being added to his list daily and some of the treated pools will need to be restocked.

"That number is going up significantly. More and more people are calling with additional pools. But we've got a pretty good handle on our swimming pools," Sackett said.

Unfortunately, the fish hatchery in Mississippi that is supplying the Gambusia fish is currently out of stock.

"We're actually harvesting some out of our own pools that Katrina had naturally stocked. I've also got a guy out of state that has a large quantity," he said.

Sackett said plans are underway to have a permanent fish hatchery located at the New Orleans Prison since the prison has an aqua-culture research facility. The prison was using the facility as a source of rehabilitation training for prisoners.

Due to damaged equipment by Hurricane Katrina, however, the fish hatchery has not been operable. But thanks to Operation Blessing, Sackett hopes to have the hatchery spawning Gambusia in the next couple of weeks.

"It will be a really neat marriage, with Operation Blessing helping to repair damaged equipment and the prison growing fish for us to put out in the swimming pools," Sackett said.

Summer Camp helps children cope with Katrina

Monday, May 29, 2006
SLIDELL, LA – Besides homes and businesses, Hurricane Katrina destroyed or severely damaged many churches along the Gulf Coast. And with summer quickly approaching, parents in some areas may find it difficult to find vacation bible schools or other camp programs usually offered by their churches.

But thanks to a grant from Operation Blessing, the First Presbyterian Church of Slidell will offer a summer “Katrina Kids’ Camp,” helping children cope with negative emotions stemming from Hurricane Katrina. Children will perform a musical titled “Don’t Give Up” with the theme of “good things can come from bad things.”

“People don’t understand how much this affects the children. Children usually look forward to vacation bible school or some kind of camp. But a lot of the churches won’t be doing that,” said Dr. Beth Cape, camp director and Christian educator.

Cape, who earned a doctorate in education ministry from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, has been in ministry since 1985. The musical camp will offer solo and speaking parts for children interested in auditioning for leading roles. Children will spend the mornings rehearsing songs, choreography, and lines followed by afternoons of fun activities, such as skating, bowling and playing water games.

“It directly pertains to these kids who have gone through difficulties from Katrina and all the difficulties in their lives,” she said.

First Presbyterian is also getting support from Northshore and Calvary Baptist churches. Both churches lost facilities and are not able to offer camps this summer.

“The camp is a response to the need in the community. Many churches in Slidell were damaged from Katrina,” Cape said.

The camp will offer three weekly sessions beginning June 5, June 12 and July 10 on Mondays thru Fridays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The children will perform a musical for the parents and the public on Friday followed by a hot-dog dinner. The camp is open to all children from first to sixth grade, but limited to 75 children per week. Registration is $10 per child.

Parents may register their children by emailing Cape at bethcape@bellsouth.net or visiting First Presbyterian Church, 1041 Ninth Street. Cape may be reached at 985-673-0871 for more information.

"Angels" come to the rescue of Katrina victim

Friday, May 22, 2006
CHALMETTE, LA – When Deb went on a business trip to Texas with her husband last August, never in her wildest dreams did she expect to have her 84-year-old mother rescued by helicopter, her dog missing for three months, and all of her possessions destroyed, including her house.

As Hurricane Katrina approached, she tried to return home, but the airports were shut down and the highways in grid-lock. A family friend took her mother and her miniature pinscher "Abigayle" to a two-story office building in St. Bernard Parish. Within minutes, the water rose to 13 feet and Deb's mother was trapped, sharing her food and water rations with the dog.

"She was there for six days. They rescued her that day by helicopter. She fell back in the water and broke three of her ribs. She had to leave the little dog behind. My little dog was out there for three months," Deb said.

Deb's mother called her from a hospital and the two were quickly reunited. After searching for three months, a woman found Abigayle and contacted Deb through an ad for missing pets.

After three months of searching, Deb's dog, Abigayle, was found and returned home.

Nine months have passed since that fateful day, and now Deb and her family hope to move back to their homes in Chalmette. Thanks to a team of volunteers from Operation Blessing, whom she has dubbed her "angels," that hope is being fulfilled.

"They were incredible. They are my angels. My heart goes out to these young people who are helping us," Deb said.

Both Deb's and her mother's house, sustained 9 to 12 feet of water and nothing was salvageable. However, when OBI volunteers went to gut the homes, they found her mother's wedding ring.

"This incredible group of young adults, my angels I call them. They invited us to go eat with them. And they listen to your stories," Deb said, trying to hold back the tears.

How they found that ring in there with all that mess..."

"You don't meet a group of people like this. They were more concerned about me, and it's mother's day and they are away from their mothers. And they are helping people. It's one of these experiences you will never forget," she said crying. "I have made some lifelong friends with this group."

California couple's journey to New Orleans changed their lives

Monday, May 15, 2006
New Orleans – Shalyn and Daniel of Temecula, California were on a journey across the United States to Michigan when they decided to make a pit stop in New Orleans.

The couple, who own a granite fabrication business, wanted to share their special skills by volunteering to help Katrina victims. And they said the experience changed their lives.

"Devastation. My heart was broken. My heart was so broken I could barely cry. It was just sheer devastation," said Shalyn, 43. "It changed our lives. I am totally grateful for my family,a simple roof over my head and food. It looks like it’s only been a week sinceKatrina."

The first day the couple spent the day delivering ice in the 9th Ward.

"It was on my heart from the time we left California," she said. We went to Slidell and no one could tell us where Habitat for Humanity was located. We stayed in the car that night and then someone told us to go to Operation Blessing."

It seemed that Daniel and Shalyn were meant to be part of OBI’s team of volunteers for that week. When Daniel was assigned a house in St. Bernard Parish, the men at the work site were about to lay ceramic tile for the first time. Daniel, 42, was able to share his knowledge as a skilled laborer in countertops and flooring.

"We were able to lay three quarters of the floor down, but the guys were so thankful because they learned how to lay ceramic tile. It was just a beautiful day," Shalyn said.

While Daniel worked on flooring, Shalyn helped place the mosquito-eating fish in the abandoned pools in New Orleans and worked at OBI’s mobile kitchen in St. Bernard Parish.

"They have created an atmosphere of dignity. They had grocery carts there for them andeverything lined up on the tables, like a grocery store.," Shalyn added.

"The U.S. needs to understand that these are our fellow citizens. If they could see a true glimpse of what we were able to see, they would bring their groups and their church groups to come and help. Our lives may have gone in a different direction because of this," she said.

Buses will help speed up recovery

Friday, May 12, 2006
New Orleans – Volunteers will have transportation to and from work sites in St. Bernard Parish thanks to Operation Blessing donating ten buses to help in the recovery process.

OBI purchased 10 retired school buses in New Jersey to help Lt. Col. David Dysart, Director of Recovery in St. Bernard Parish, house and transport volunteers since the churches have not been rebuilt in the devastated area.

"By the use of these volunteers, almost 1,300 homes have been gutted and we have removed health and safety hazards," said Lt. Col. Dysart. "This allows my elderly and my handicapped and all the residents to be able to more rapidly return to their home, reducing the amount of time they are going to have to be in FEMA trailers," he added.

Dysart runs Camp Premiere, a volunteer camp that has played a critical role in the development of the parish. The camp, which currently houses up to 1500 volunteers, includes groups such as Habitat for Humanity and other faith-based organizations.

Lieutenant Colonel David Dysart, Director of Recovery in St. Bernard Parish.

Dysart, a U.S. Marine reservist, assisted community leaders in the reconstruction of Fallujah, Iraq - a city that was flooded when a loss of electricity caused the pumping stations to fail. Based on his experience in Iraq, Dysart says that strategically, it is important for debris to be cleared first so the city can rebuild.

St. Bernard Parish was one of the hardest hit areas by Katrina, with at least half of the homes damaged beyond repair. Of the 27,000 homes and 14,000 businesses in the parish, all but three were flooded during Katrina.

"It is the collaboration of volunteer efforts that brings hope to the community as a whole," Dysart added.

"I had a 'for sale' sign in my yard and I was convinced I could not return to my home," said a St. Bernard resident. "These volunteers have given me hope. They gutted my house, removed the debris and now I know I can come home. I can come home. I tossed my 'for sale' sign on the pile of trash out front."

New Orleans East dental clinic opens in May

OBI closed their dental clinic in Chalmette in April and moved to Arabi in St. Bernard Parish. The Arabi clinic is currently closed in preparation for opening the larger clinic in New Orleans East. The new clinic, which will have four chairs, will provide basic emergency dental work and also preventative care such as hygiene services, according to Pam Fincher, dental manager with Operation Blessing.

Fincher said the OBI clinic in Arabi will handle overflow from the clinic in New Orleans East. The former clinic in Chalmette averaged 12 to 15 patients a day with just one dentist working. Most patients suffered from abscesses, infections, broken teeth and cavities, she said.

The larger clinic is scheduled to open May 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 5501 Read Boulevard, across from the former Methodist Hospital. The clinic will also treat children.

And Fincher said the clinic will need volunteers. Dentists and hygienists can volunteer for a day or up to two weeks. Volunteers are asked to provide their own transportation, while Operation Blessing provides housing and meals."We are always in need for volunteers," Fincher added. If you are a dentist or hygienist and would like to volunteer for Operation Blessing's dental clinic, please contact Scott Hill, OBI National Volunteer Manager, at 757-353-1854 or email volunteer@ob.org.

Church reaches out to Mississippi Gulf Coast town

But hope remains as residents try and rebuild their lives. And Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church continues to help victims recover from their tragic losses.

"Even now, we've only got one family in our congregation that lives in their home. Most people are in trailers," Reverend Harry L. Toussaint said.

"Our church took in 12 feet of water. The surge may have been as much as 24 feet," Toussaint said, adding that the church is about ¾ of a mile from the Gulf. "The only homes that could withstand it were brick structures. All the other houses, the Army Corp of Engineers tore them down. Anything that was not made of a brick structure, they tore down."

Toussaint estimates that 60 to 70 percent of the population has returned. He also expects more residents who relocated to come back once their children complete the school year.

After the storm, Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church offered residents clothes, food and basic necessities. And as their needs changed, the church began providing building materials and appliances to Katrina victims.

"We are at the home-building stage. We're focusing on building materials and appliances," Toussaint said.

With the exception of a service station, there are still no grocery stores open and people must travel to Long Beach for their shopping needs.

Goodwill Baptist Church is one of hundreds of churches that received a cash grant from Operation Blessing to aid them in their disaster relief services. To date, OBI has given more than $4 million in grants to help the Gulf Coast recover after Katrina.

New ramp helps 91-year-old Katrina victim

Prior to the ramp, the senior citizen was having trouble mastering the stairs that led to his trailer. Now Eddie can now enter and leave his home easily via his walker.

"It's the best thing that's happened to me in a long time. I love that porch and I can go up and down it either with my walker or my stick. It makes it easier. Ya'll have done wonders," Eddie said.

Although Eddie's trailer received some damage from Katrina, an invasion of more than 200 rats finished the job by basically destroying everything in their path – including chewing through the pipe insulation and destroying his water system. Eddie is currently using a hose for his water supply.

Wendy, a representative of STARC who partners with the Council of Aging, said helping Eddie is her "mission." She has donated much of her personal time by helping him with repairs and cleaning. Wendy, who referred Eddie to Operation Blessing a few weeks ago, said she brought a hospital bed for Eddie after his was destroyed from the rat infestation.

"I was at his house Monday and cleaned his kitchen floor. I was literally using a shovel to get the grime out of the floor. We've been taking his laundry out and getting it done and we supplied him with some new clothes that were donated. I'm trying to meet his immediate needs," Wendy said.

"He is thrilled with his ramp because he can take his rolling walker with him. It makes it safer and he is less likely to fall. When I went over the other day, he was sitting under a tree listening to big band music," Wendy said.

OBI volunteer Brian Mayeske of Lakin, Kansas, and a team of four men built the ramp for Eddie. The men are all members of the Christian Public Service, a Mennonite organization.

In addition to building the ramp, OBI also purchased a new refrigerator for Eddie since his was infested with maggots. OBI is still assessing Eddie's needs and plans to continue to help the senior citizen recover from his ordeal.

Medical staff aid handicapped man in clinic's parking lot

When Katrina struck his home, he lost everything - including his wheelchair. With the aid of Operation Blessing volunteers and his cousin Martin, he was able to maneuver his walker up to the steps of the trailer which houses the clinic.

Despite having a Medicaid card, he could not find a hospital or doctor open to give him his insulin and he knew his blood sugar level must be high at this point.

When nurse practitioner Dorothy Davison realized Robert could not make it up the stairs, she came to him, treating Robert in the parking lot where the temporary medical clinic is located. And all in good time. Robert's blood sugar level was at 345 and normal range for him is 150.

"Well, I was sort of hot, you know. And then, after I got the insulin and got the shot, you know. I felt better," Robert said.

"I tried to go to a clinic near Tulane (hospital) but they told me I would have to come back the next day. So I heard there was another clinic in the east. And we drove there. It was good service. Ya'll came out and helped me pretty good. The one on Tulane, you kind of have to go upstairs."

Robert is one of the hundreds of patients being treated by doctors at Operation Blessing's free medical clinic. Many of these patients, who have chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, are out of their medications and their former doctors' offices remain closed.

"I was trying to find my old doctor but her place had damage. I got everything I need right now," Robert said, referring to his medications.

Robert said he plans to continue to be a patient at the medical clinic and has applied for a wheelchair and a handicapped trailer. A larger medical clinic, which will open in May, will be wheelchair accessible.

Former school teacher joins OBI medical clinic staff

But neither Darlene nor the children returned to school after Katrina struck New Orleans Monday morning and delivered five feet of water to the campus.

"I gave them their homework assignment and I haven't seen them again," said Darlene, who has been a teacher for 27 years.

Darlene's mother, who was in a nursing home on life support in New Orleans East, died when the generators flooded. After nearly three months of searching to find her mother's remains, Darlene was finally able to bury her mother. But the tragic losses did not stop there. Darlene's sister, who was "overwhelmed" with stress from Katrina, passed away less than 24 hours after they buried their mother.

When Darlene went for an examination at Operation Blessing's medical clinic this month, she learned of a job opening, interviewed and has been working at the clinic since April 17.

As receptionist, she greets the Katrina victims with a warm smile in the waiting room. She knows first hand what they have been through.

"I actually heard about the clinic on the radio. Always having insurance, I have now joined the new group that is uninsured. This was a new reality check for me. My insurance was gone, my school was gone, my job was gone, and my home was gone. I'm now living in a trailer," she said.

But Darlene has found working with Operation Blessing to be very fulfilling. "I love it very much . . . what they're [OBI] doing is for the people. If people can see perfect strangers doing this, you can't help but get a sense of purpose, like I'm doing something positive. It's very rewarding. We've had some interesting conversations in the waiting room," she said.

New York medical students lend a hand at clinic

As the surreal feeling begins to diminish in these post-Katrina days, it is these volunteers that truly touch our hearts by bringing sunshine and hope to a city being rebuilt.

With most of the hospitals closed and doctors relocating elsewhere, the city is facing a serious health crisis. But we can thank volunteers like the group of New York medical students who traded in their spring break this month to volunteer at OBI's free medical clinic in New Orleans East.

Team leader Leslie Hsiung of New York Medical College said the group took the patients' history, gathered medical supplies and organized the pharmacy.

Hsiung said she tried to prepare herself mentally before the trip, believing the devastation would be more severe than reported on the news. "Even with that mental preparation, it just seemed like we were in a third world country. All of us were pretty humbled by that," she said.

Other members of the group were Adrian Mei of New York Medical College, Aimee Lee of Mount Cinai School of Medicine in New York and Angie Lee, a physical therapist from Long Island.

The group spent the last few days gutting homes.

"We've done a little bit of everything. It was a really great experience," Hsiung said. "I really hope people realize that there is still a lot that needs to be done and can be done there. Operation Blessing is a great organization to work with," she said.

Since the clinic opened in March, OBI volunteers have treated 621 patients – including 27 children – distributed 1,510 prescriptions, and volunteered more than 663 hours.

Mobile kitchen continues to feed thousands of Katrina victims

The center, which provides breakfast, lunch and dinner, also uses vans to transport hot meals throughout various locations in the New Orleans area.

"We do an extensive outreach program for families that are rebuilding their homes," said Brent Turnipseed, who supervises the mobile kitchen sites and is a bishop with New Life Outreach Missions. "We're seeing a trend of more of the families coming back in. I truly believe we will have a flow of new people coming in once their children finish school."

Turnipseed said he believes it will be hard for many returning families to find adequate housing since the real estate market has tripled.

"We're seeing a tremendous amount of families who had homes and businesses and are now homeless. They're sleeping in their cars. Everyday we see different things. A lot of people will just break down and cry after they get a meal. They've lost everything and they don't know which way to turn. To be able to have that hot meal supplied to them is a small, comforting factor," he said.

OBI's mobile kitchen unit at Victory Fellowship serves 10,000 to 14,000 hot meals weekly and has provided a total of 522,302 meals to Katrina victims.

Larger medical clinic opening soon in New Orleans East

"It's a true blessing," said Carmen, who lost everything in Katrina since her home was next to the London Avenue Bridge. She plans to "be back bigger and stronger."

Carmen is one of hundreds of patients being helped by doctors at OBI's temporary medical clinic. The clinic, which has three exam rooms, is currently treating about 70 patients a day, according to Dr. Dale Betterton, who oversees the clinic along with his wife Dorothy Davison, a nurse practitioner.

"We're at about the maximum people we can handle," Betterton said.

The larger medical clinic units arrived Thursday and will have seven exam rooms which include three dental suites. Dr. Betterton hopes to treat at least 200 patients a day at the new facility, which will open in about two weeks.

Betterton said the majority of patients coming to the clinic face chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and many are out of their medications. And there is still a need for volunteers for the medical clinic.

"We need more doctors. That's the greatest need," Davison said.

For more information on volunteering with OBI's medical clinic, please contact Davison or Betterton at imaonline@att.net.

Tiny fish tackle mosquito population

But Operation Blessing's "Bug Busters" are hard at work stopping mosquitoes and their larvae in their tracks thanks to some tiny mosquito-eating fish called Gambusia affinis.

This week, OBI partnered with the New Orleans Mosquito Board to fund the major mosquito control project. On Tuesday, research entomologist Steve Sackett of the Orleans Mosquito Board, and a team of OBI Bug Buster volunteers released thousands of fish in stagnant swimming pools throughout New Orleans.

"When I looked at the magnitude of the problem, I knew we didn't have the staff or funding to accomplish this job. I'm looking at this saying I can't get this job done. I started looking at volunteer groups. Eventually, I was put in contact with Bill Horan with Operation Blessing. He was very excited about being able to help with this project," Sackett said.

Operation Blessing purchased thousands of fish for the project. In addition, they are also providing volunteers to distribute the fish and plans are currently underway to establish a fish hatchery in New Orleans.

Sackett said there is a concern for a West Nile epidemic because he has seen some of the prime mosquito vectors of the West Nile Virus in the stagnant pools. "We were very concerned if these pools were untreated," he added.

Americorps members help OBI with disaster relief

Despite the destruction, hope prevails, along with a sense of renewal, as people return and begin the road to recovery. Residents owe many thanks to all the volunteers from across the United States who have left their jobs, schools and families behind to come help Louisiana residents.

"I love it. It's been one of the best experiences in my life. You meet a lot of interesting people and I love everything we do. It taught me a lot," Hurley added. "I really enjoyed Operation Blessing. I felt like what we were doing was really wonderful," she said.

According to Americorps media representative, Rachel Brooks, an estimated 60 teams have volunteered to help victims since Katrina. Brooks said the main focus this year has been disaster relief.

Gold 7 team leader Virginia Zuco, 24, who is originally from Italy, signed up for her second term this year. As a team leader her responsibilities include managing the other team members, budgeting and being a liaison between her team and other organizations such as OBI.

The Americorps is a ten-month long government program designed for young adults between the ages of 18-24. Americorps provides food and housing along with a small living stipend. Zuco said Americorps is part of the National Civilian Community Corp (NCCC). Once a corps member completes 1,700 hours of community service, the members receive an educational award to be used toward college or student loans.

"We do disaster relief, habitat for humanity, education projects ... basically, any kind of unmet human need," Zuco said.

City Cathedral helps families in need

The center, which opened November 14, provides food and supplies to about 150 vehicles daily since most of the grocery stores, restaurants and drug stores remain closed in the area.

"Right now, much of New Orleans East is the same as it was right after Katrina ... I can go five miles west, and they have lights and water and we still don't have basic utilities here," said Associate Pastor Andrew Bensen.

In addition to the food boxes, the center provides clothing, hygiene and cleaning products. Bensen said the people returning to the community are in need since most do not have jobs. "We came in as a church to help the people return and help meet their needs," he said.

Bensen believes more residents will continue to return to the area and the center is constantly trying to evaluate the people's needs. He estimates they help about 8,800 families a month.

"Everybody together has really helped us to be able to influence our community. We also minister to the people and some are now members of our church," he added.

The center is open three to four times a week from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 8801 Chef Menteur Highway in New Orleans East.

College ministry helps Katrina victims

OBI team leader Mike Cummins of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, who is a Campus Crusade member, said the team helped a Lacombe family, Patty and Russell, who had nine huge pine trees fall on their home during Katrina. The home was also flooded.

Patty and Russell, who have two children and seven pets, have been staying at Russell's mother's house in Slidell until they decide whether or not to rebuild their home. The couple, who does not have flood insurance, heard about Operation Blessing while at church.

"They had water damage on the first floor and a tree came through the second floor. We gutted their first floor and we took the roof off the second floor and did the initial prep work," Cummins said.

"Now, we don't feel bad every time we go there. Thank God for them. Before I couldn't even go to the house... it was too much. My husband was kind of depressed because he doesn't have a job," Patty said.

Patty said she hopes to move back to Lacombe, but she still has not heard from her homeowner's insurance company. "We don't know if it will be enough to create that home again," she said.

Cummins, a graduate of Calvin College in Michigan, said the group also helped the couple with their house plans and gave them a much more viable plan.

"For any volunteers that are considering coming, it will forever change your life. As far as the state, it's coming along. Every person helps. If it wasn't for all the groups like Operation Blessing and Campus Crusade, the work would not be getting done because the government is working very slowly," Cummins said.

Operation Blessing helps widow recover

After Katrina struck, her Slidell home of 31 years received five feet of water and she lost all of her possessions except for three chairs and a few items of clothing she took with her when she evacuated. Without flood insurance, Carol began to hire contractors to repair her home and the nightmare began. With more than an estimated $15,000 paid to various workers, Carol soon learned she was being overcharged and could no longer afford to hire anyone.

"I was trying to hang the insulation myself when my friend, Freddy Drennan, the chief of police in Slidell, who worked with my husband for many years, said, 'Girl go over there (Operation Blessing) and talk to those people. Maybe they can help you.' I get overwhelmed with all the wonderful blessings. I don't feel worthy of them all. There's some people who need it worse to me," Carol said tearfully.

Operation Blessing sent the Pennsylvania team of 20 volunteers to Carol's home to install sheetrock and insulation.

"And one happened to be the sheriff of the county they live in," Carol said. "That was really amazing. What are the odds of a sheriff showing up? It blew me away. I write to his wife. She sends me pictures. If I can ever get things squared away, I'm going to Pennsylvania to see these folks. I kind of got a little family in Pennsylvania," she said crying.

Carol still gets emotional as she retells the story of help she received from Operation Blessing. "Ya'll are the ones. Ya'll leave your homes, your jobs, your families to help an old woman you don't even know."

Special Clinic Day for Police Officers

"The intent was to build a relationship with the police," OBI staff member Thomas Koehl said. "They need to be cared for as servants to the people."

Koehl said the officers will also be able to "get the word out to the community." During the clinic's first week of operation, OBI doctors treated 163 patients and filled 353 prescriptions. The onsite pharmacy provides free medication for many Katrina victims who are returning to an area without open drug stores.

"A lot of patients are just coming in town from where they evacuated and they need refills on medications. We're seeing a lot of chronic cough and skin infections," said Dr. Cynthia Linardos, who was volunteering at OBI's clinic for several days before returning to her practice in Reno, Nevada.

Dr. Dale Betterton, who oversees the clinic, said many of the police officers suffered from allergic and upper respiratory problems caused by environmental factors such as pollen and dust. The majority of other patients treated last week were middle-aged and elderly residents with chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Operation Blessing helps rural community center

"When I first met Operation Blessing, I was at one of my lowest points because I felt like I did all that I could do," Magee said. "And at that very moment, they knocked at my door. There they stood, Jody and Dan. And my first words were, 'I've been looking for you.'

Jody Herrington, OBI disaster relief manager, said she and her assistant Dan Moore were driving in the area that day looking for a location to place a trailer. "I just felt a need to stop there," Herrington said.

When Herrington told Magee about OBI's Fast Cash Grant program, Magee was overcome with tears. "We have, through the finances that Operation Blessing gave us, been able to help hundreds of people."

Specifically, Magee was able to purchase supplies, food and clothing for Katrina victims as well as mattresses, bed linens and school uniforms for children.

"That was a blessing from Operation Blessing. We're in a very rural area and there was limited support." Magee said.

Magee founded the center in 1984 to help at-risk children, at-risk families, foster families and disabled individuals. The center offers tutoring, computer classes and has a meal program. "We were up in this rural area and so many children were coming to my house. There was a need to be a mentor for children," she said.

Although many people in Angie are still living in FEMA trailers, Pride and Hope Ministry continues to shed light on the children and families of the community. "We're just surviving and doing survival techniques," Magee said.

College students plan future trips to help Katrina victims

Team Leader Wes Jensen, 19 of Doane College in Crete, Nebraska, volunteered during fall break and returned to New Orleans last week with a group of 22 students. "I'm praying about coming back possibly over a summer project and actually our group has thought about coming back over fall and spring break next year," Jensen said.

Last week, the team helped Joseph and Sharon of Chalmette gut their home, which had sustained six and a half feet of water during Katrina. The couple, who had lived in the house for 30 years, lost everything.

"They did a wonderful job. They jumped right in there...great kids," Joseph said.

Joseph is on leave from Murphy Oil Refinery and Sharon lost her dance studio due to Katrina. The couple has been living in Las Vegas, Nevada, with their daughter since Katrina and is not sure if they will return. "It's up for grabs. We're waiting until this hurricane season to see," he said.

The team of students from Doane College gutted the entire house and felt a personal connection with the couple as they worked together.

"As we put items out, they were there rummaging through it. You could see even though it was a bad situation they had that faith. Their demeanor and attitude was positive. Joe was saying that now that you have been down you are actually part of it. You smell the smell...it makes it more real," Jensen said.

"I would encourage college students, if they really want to serve people, this is a city in great need and these people really admire our support," he added.

Teachers on spring break help Katrina victims

"We were having a teacher's meeting in January . . . so we said we should go down there. It was just a desire to help. We were thinking about other school children and the devastation," said Gwen, a kindergarten teacher.

Gwen brought her 19-year-old daughter Sara of Indiana University and husband Len on the road trip to help victims. "We didn't do much, but we knew that little is much. And we looked around and saw all of these teenagers and college students giving up their spring break. That blessed us . . . to see that thousands of college kids were helping. It was encouraging."

Monique, a 6th grade teacher who lived in the Bahamas, is no stranger to the fury of hurricanes. Her relatives lost homes in both Hurricane Andrew and Floyd. "I hope to be able to go back in the summer. Personally, I have been in a hurricane experience before and had a hard time just grasping the overwhelming devastation of the area. And I determined if it was taking this long to get it under control and functioning, I wanted to help out in any way I could."

The OBI group helped residents of St. Bernard Parish with home repairs and cleaning. They shared fond memories of helping Cecil and his son with their home, who had rescued 80 people out of the water with their boat during Katrina.

Barbara, a 3rd grade teacher, who has been on mission trips to Africa twice, said she felt a strong desire to help and serve. "I also like to share with my students the things that are going around the world."

Free Medical Clinic opens Monday in New Orleans East

The duo are the founders of the International Medical Alliance (IMA), an organization which provides free medical, dental, surgical, veterinary and eyeglass care to people in need. OBI has funded a partnership with IMA to open the free clinic which will offer primary care and dental care.

"We have been working diligently to get the clinic open in New Orleans since Katrina caused many hospitals to close down their doors indefinitely," Davison, a nurse practioner, said.

OBI's semi-permanent clinic is due to arrive on April 11 with plans to officially open by April 17. The clinic will house seven to eight exam rooms along with two dental offices. Davison estimates the walk-in clinic will be open for at least a year due to the dire need for health care in the New Orleans area.

Davison and Betterton opened a similar facility in Mississippi in September, immediately following Katrina. They plan to use some of the same volunteers for OBI's medical clinic; however, there is still a great need to recruit more health care professionals.

"We need doctors who can do primary care. We need nurses, medical assistants, mental counselors and we need people who have office skills," Davison added.

If you would like to volunteer for OBI's medical clinic, please contact Davison or Betterton at imaonline@att.net.

Dental clinic needs volunteers

"We need help. We really need help,"Fincher said. "The fact that we can provide free dental care is a little bit of hope to someone. The clinic is run by volunteers right now and unless we have the help, the doors are going to shut."

The clinic treats about 10 to 18 patients daily, however they must turn away three times that amount because the area doesn't have adequate dental care. Since Katrina, only one dentist has returned to his practice in Chalmette and he is overwhelmed with patients. Many of the dentists in the surrounding areas evacuated during Katrina and have chosen to relocate.

Fincher said due to the volume of patients, they are only able to help patients with emergency needs, such as fillings and extractions. And many of these patients are people who have dental problems stemming from Katrina. "A person was running to the Superdome, tripped and lost a filling or a lady was telling me that she was grinding her teeth for five days after Katrina," she said. "A lot of big, big needs here."

Dentists can volunteer for a day or up to two weeks and are responsible for their own transportation. Operation Blessing provides housing and meals.

The clinic will be closed the week of April 3 and will reopen the following week, provided there are dental volunteers available. If you are a dentist and would like to volunteer, please call Scott at 757-353-1854 or email volunteer@ob.org.

College students bond with elderly Katrina victims

"We helped Jo-Ann for two days. By the time we were done with Jo-Ann's house, we felt like we knew her . . . like she was our grandmother," said team leader Tyler, a 20-year-old from Hastings College in Nebraska.

Jo-Ann, mother of four children and grandmother to nine, said her home received roughly six to seven feet of water. Her ex-husband, Walter, who stayed at the home during Katrina, was trapped on the roof for several days before being rescued by boat. Jo-Ann said she couldn't afford the prices contractors were charging to gut homes and applied for assistance with Operation Blessing.

"I don't have enough praise for that group of young people," Jo-Ann said. "They raised money to come down here or put up their own money. They were lifesavers."

This marks Tyler's second trip to help Katrina victims. "It might seem like you're going down and putting in a ton of work, but you are getting much more from this. When you see the look on their face and you know that you have truly helped them, that is one of the greatest feelings you can have," he added.

Rat nest found in disabled widow's home

Sally, a disabled widow who suffered a stroke and needs several back surgeries, had three large trees fall on her home during Katrina and has been living with her daughter ever since. She has been trying desperately to get help repairing and removing items from her home which is laden with mold and more recently rats.

"We ended up moving everything out of her master bedroom closet and bathroom, creating a pile 20-feet-long and 5-feet-high outside her home," said team leader Jason Harmon, 21 of Wright State university. "We ended up pulling out about 12 dead rats."

Jason was also able to repair the main water line for $5 in parts while a local plumber wanted to charge Sally $1,000 for the job. "There are people that really do care. There are God-loving people who want to shed that love on people down here. If it means my spring break, it's worth it to help someone out," he said.

"I'm so grateful," Sally said. "I have all of their names and addresses. When I get back home I'm going to send them a king cake. They were wonderful. What a miracle to see all those faces," she said.

Safety 101: Why protective clothing is necessary

I was quite impressed with these students who traded in their spring break to help their fellow citizens in New Orleans following the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. It was my first orientation as well and I learned a lot as Crawford Boyd, warehouse manager, talked about safety on the job site.

Operation Blessing provides respirators, boots, work gloves, Tyvek suits and hard hats to protect volunteers from mold and chemical particles when entering a previously flooded home. Although the hot, muggy summer heat is approaching, volunteers need to keep their safety equipment on at all times until they are at least 30 feet from the work site. Boyd suggests ventilating the home by opening all of the windows and taking breaks every 45 minutes by going outside. He also warned the students to be on guard of snakes, spiders and other animals that may have found a haven in these damaged homes, especially poisonous water moccasins.

Once a volunteer is wearing the safety garb – which looks like a space suit from a science fiction movie – I can only describe the feeling as surreal. When you enter a person's former home to "gut it," you realize this person probably thought they were returning the next day. Yet more than six months later, thousands families are still homeless and staying in trailers or with relatives and friends.

Elderly woman gets hot water

Just ask Pauline, an 81-year-old widow who resides in Lacombe, Louisiana. Pauline has been without hot water since Katrina struck – more than six months ago – because she did not have the funds to replace a faulty electrical panel for her hot water heater. Operation Blessing's disaster relief team came to her rescue by sending husband and wife volunteers Ken and Bernadette Reilly to her home. Ken, a retired electrical contractor from Bakersville, North Carolina, and his wife repaired the panel in a few hours.

"They were so nice," Pauline said. "They helped me so much. I hadn't had a good bath in the last six months."

This marks the second trip the Reillys have made to the New Orleans area to volunteer their services with OBI, first in October and then in February. "It's such a blessing to be here and help. People are so appreciative," Bernadette said. "People don't realize the scope of destruction until they are here."

The Reillys are two of the many thousands of Operation Blessing volunteers who continue to help Katrina victims restore their lives.

Who is Operation Blessing?
An international humanitarian aid organization dedicated to alleviating human need and suffering by providing food, water, medicine and disaster relief to those in need.

Contact Us By Phone
1-800-730-2537