William Jewell Students Making an Impact

Katrina Hurricane Relief Trip: Fall Break 2005

Members of the American Humanics Student Association, in collaboration with the William Jewell Student Ministry, traveled to New Orleans in mid-October 2005 to assist with the national effort to rebuild the city.  They participated in “mud-outs” in the devastated neighborhoods of the Algiers district, entering homes to clear them of mud and other debris left from the flooding.  American Humanics students and Campus Executive Director Kevin Shaffstall raised money to underwrite their transportation costs through student and faculty efforts.  Upon arriving in New Orleans they delivered in-kind gifts contributed by local individuals and nonprofit organizations.

During the trip, the students kept journals to reflect on their experience. Here are a few lines from their journals:

There is such a need that everyone needs to be aware of, and all that can help should consider it an honor to be one of the people helping as opposed to one of the people being helped.

  =====

These past few days we saw so much, felt so much, and experienced so much that it is hard to find the words to say what you are truly thinking and feeling. 

  =====

I enjoyed so much being able to help someone out and give them something that they couldn’t have done themselves.  I know that my life will be devoted to helping people.

  =====

It was amazing to see the resilience of the people.

  =====

We always try to emphasize placing importance on the right things. If I lost all my possessions, what would I lose?  Would I lose everything, or next to nothing?  This trip and these people have reinforced to me that I’ve got to live in such a way that to lose everything would be to lose nothing.

  =====

This was, out of 9 missions trips I’ve been on, the most moving and the most productive.

 ====

There was a lot more widespread damage than I thought as no house was without major damage.

 

 

More on Hurricane Relief Trip:

Hurricane Relief Manual

Student Reflections

Advisor Reflections

Student Snapshots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Experience the trip through the eyes of those who participated:

Student Reflections

Advisor Reflections

Snapshots from Students