Boston College Athletics
Day 2-3 Of BC Student-Athletes Mississippi Service Trip
January 16, 2010 | Devlin Student-Athlete Formation & Succe
Jan. 16, 2010
Day 2
The day started with a 7 am meeting where we got our assignments for the day. 12 of us were assigned to Tabor St, the previous location of the Katrina Relief organization. The remainder of the group stayed at the camp to assist Kathleen and Laurie with the case files. After a quick breakfast and packing our lunch, we got to work.
The group who stayed at the camp completed the massive task of cataloging case files and ensuring they were entered into the system accurately in order to continue the relief efforts. Once cataloged, the group determined which files needed additional follow up and began making phone calls to residents to update their files as to the current status of their recovery and set up site visits for the Adopt-a-Family program through the state of Mississippi.
The Tabor St group traveled to the worksite in Waveland, MS to begin prepping the former home of the Katrina Relief organization to be an official Red Cross Shelter. The work consisted of mowing the lawn, cleaning out a large shed on the side of the house, burning down piles of wood, and organizing items such as windows & scrap metal to be picked up and donated later. We also had the privilege to meet a man from the neighborhood who was thankful for the work we were doing in the area. As we broke for lunch he told us the story of himself and his family during the storm. When the storm hit and the waters rose to about 6 feet, he got in his boat and gathered up his family and traveled about the city and saved 20 people along the way until they finally pulled up to the 2nd floor of a motel where the water was about 14 feet high. They stayed and rode out the storm for over two weeks before further rescue could reach them.
Day 3
It was a 7am wake up call for the gang here on the service trip. The bagels were toasted, the juice was poured, and the day had begun. Kathleen, our fearless manager gave us the run down. Two groups were again created to divide the work for the day. The office group from the pervious day got a chance to strap on their boots and get down n' dirty. The tabor street gang from the day before were assigned to finish up the office work and get the client files nailed down. The gloves were on, the phones were dialed and we all were off.
The office was bustling with BC athletes. The files from the day before were all of families who needed phone updates. Everyone picked up a phone and made the calls without a hitch. The families were so grateful to hear a friendly voice and even more interested to know we all were from bean town and down here to lend a helping hand. Laurie was even more grateful to have so many busy Bostonians pitching in. The work was filed and the calls were made before we all turned in for a great dinner made by the one and only chef Dominic.
The new Tabor street crew was eager and ready to take on some serious work after being couped up in the office. They piled out of the van and into the action. The major work that needed to be done was getting all the left over materials from the old center to the new one. The task involved sweeping, piling, breaking, throwing, and yes, even getting a little dirty. The group conquered the piles one by one and even managed to look great in all the photo opps' while doing it. The trailor was piled high with odds and ends. We called it day on the sight at about 11:30 and headed back to the center for a quick bite. The afternoon was spent on a work job. A local artist and her husband welcomed us into her home for none other than a painting job! We wet the rollers, poured the primer, and began to paint. Who knew BC athletes were so talented with a paintbrush? The artist Laurie, and her husband Cairo were absolutely thrilled to see us working away, putting the finishing touches on their house that had been built 2 years after the storm.
The day came and went for both groups. Each worked hard to help make a dent in the large amount of work the center has. Every little bit counts, whether it's a filing job, or a painting project, it all makes a difference.
