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Woodstock, Vermont’sNorth Universalist Chapel Society’s
Hurricane Relief Trip 2005to New Iberia, Louisiana, to work withSouthern Mutual Help Association’s
Rural Recovery Task Force
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Orientationat Victor’sw/ Judy Herring
& Juanita Alvarez-Mainster
Judy was ourprimary contact
with SMHA &became a goodfriend to us all.
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Lorna Bourg & Sister Helen Vinton are the inspiration behind
Southern Mutual Help Association.
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Our first day in the field. . . .doing assessments on Lamas Street
in Erath, Louisiana
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Seeing the
Hurricane’sForce
in Esther &Intercoastal City
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The destructionwas even foundin cemeteries.
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Our Main Project: Repairing the Hurricane-Damaged
Home of The RossersKaren, Brad and their seven adopted/foster children:Terra, Frankie, Lynn, Dasha, Derrick, Monika & Tylor
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Cleaning the Mold& tearing out rotted walls
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. . .and Rotted Floors. . .
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Haulin’ & Pilin’
Our first of several piles.
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But they kept taking our piles away
(each time with a bigger tractor).
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Many of us learnedTo use new tools. . .
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After tearing the rotted floors out,
we replaced them with new ones.
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At Last!the FEMA trailers arrived –
to be followed by NUMEROUS inspectors.
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We put in the floor for the new kitchen (all new construction must be 11’ above sea level --the rest of the house is at about 8’, so there will be
three steps up to the new kitchen from the rest of the house).
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And later the walls and roof.
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As we returned to Vermont,we reflected on
how much there is that still needs to be done. . .
We hope many other volunteers will follow us in the coming months and
years to continue the work of SMHA’s
Rural Recovery Responseto rebuild rural Louisianabetter than it was before.
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If your church or college is interested in sending a team to volunteer, contact:
Judy Herring [email protected]
If you are interested in making a contribution to support this kind of work,
visit SMHA’s website at
www.SouthernMutualHelp.org