Hurricane Katrina - NOLA.com

Hurricane Katrina making its second landfall in Louisiana, as seen by NWS New Orleans radar. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hard to believe it has been 8 years.  I could guess it was 20 years or 20 days.  The anniversary brings so many memories.  about the best I can say for it is this is how BonaResponds got its start.  But it came at such a high cost.

Please take a few minutes and go through the reports on Katrina then and how the region has come back. 

Hurricane Katrina - NOLA.com:

"August 29, 2005. New Orleans will forever exist as two cities: The one that existed before that date, and the one after. From this page, access the latest news of the recovery effort. Browse through the extraordinary archive of The Times-Picayune's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage. And join the thousands of voices by sharing your Katrina story."

 I remember scouring Nola.com for any and all news, looking for lost pets, dreading the news updates but addicted to hearing what was happening.  And then going.  People said it would be a life changing trip.  I laughed, but they were right.

Related articles

• Hurricane Katrina plus eight: Glimpsing the new normal
• Katrina Victims Honored in the Lower Ninth Ward
• Remembering New Orleans' Heroes
• Looking Back: Katrina through the photographer's lens

Pictures from this weekend

Great weekend of helping others!  Here are many more pictures.

1. 13 barrels of school supplies filled
2. Our truck body storage trailer was painted
3. A first layer of paint was put on the observation deck on the Bonaventure campus near the "Observatory"
4. The trails through Bob's Woods were mowed and clipped.
5. Drywall was hung on the ceiling at Ed and Donna's in Friendship.  
6. Brother Ed's group made 20 blankets for WarmSnugglyBlanket

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Helping in Haiti

School Supplies for Haiti (Photo credit: Bona_Responds)

Remember a few weeks ago I mentioned we needed to refocus our efforts in Haiti as they were becoming forgotten in the Post Sandy, Post Oklahoma general business.  So, we did.  Here is a fast update.

* We are having a supply backing event on August 24 to mail barrels of school supplies and a pallet of shoes.  So if you have school supplies or lightly used shoes, please bring them in!

* We are happy to announce that CMJ will be getting a solar power system.  We'd LOVE to be able to do more, so we have also announced a fund raising effort along with HaitiScholarships.  It is our first time using GoFundMe.com so let us know what you think.  (You can also give via HaitiScholarships or to BonaResponds for shipping of supplies).

 

 *  Haiti was also the theme of the BonaResponds Moment this week on WGWE.  (THANKS TO AKT Combative Academy for their sponsorship of the weekly interview!)



* This school year we really really want to start a pen pal program with classes in Haiti.  I spoke with the post office this week and there is now regular mail to and from Haiti.  So let's do this.  Want to write letters to students/classes?  It sounds fun!  Email me (Jimmahar@yahoo.com) to be part of this program.  Once we get the solar system up, we will likely be looking for tutors and English teachers as well. 

Weekend recap

What a great BR weekend!  Thank you to those who came and helped!



On Saturday we worked in Angelica.  We had volunteers who did plumbing, painting, and built this handrail to help Dave get around his house.  Dave is a 79 year old Korean War Vet who has had very very limited water in his house for several years. It was a really fun day with the family and neighbors lending a hand (and food) and making a big impact.  We hope to go back when the students are back to do some more: Painting, roofing the garage, and fixing some broken windows.  More pictures of it are here.

On Sunday, as Ed continued plumbing in Angelica, others of us went to Arcade and built a deck for Ken (a Vietnam Vet with MS who can not longer safely get around on the grass.  The deck (off of the existing ramp the VA paid for) will allow him and Denise (who helped immensely with the construction) have a place to sit and a BBQ.





After the Arcade deck job we picked up barrels in Buffalo that will be used for our next packing event for Haiti on August 24.  Be sure to donate school supplies in advance so they can be shipped in time for schools in Haiti to get before their start of class in Late Sept/Early October.

This weekend

Saturday:   BonaResponds in Angelica

BonaResponds will be working in Angelica, N.Y., at the home of a 79 year old Korean War veteran who has had almost no interior plumbing for years. We will be replumbing the house, installing hand rails and grab bars, fixing the siding, repairing windows, and painting. We'd love your help. We are leaving at 10:30 a.m. Saturday from the truck body behind the SBU maintenance building.   

Also with back to school sales starting, it's a great time pick up some supplies for Haiti. Pens, pencils, paper, notebooks, backpacks, calculators, crayons, scissors, and more all in high demand.  

Sunday: to be determined.   We expect to be in Arcade, but the trailer park owner has yet to approve the plans.