[D9640general] [eFlash_Rotary] Digest Number 693

[Garry & Anne Krischock]

1. 1346: Rotarians continue to make a difference in post-Katrina Missis 

Posted by: "Sunil K Zachariah" sunilkzach at yahoo.co.uk   sunilkzach 
Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:53 am (PST) 



Rotarians continue to make a difference in post-Katrina Mississippi

By Lisa Baker 
Rotary International News

With Katrina's second anniversary approaching, Rotarians continue to 
donate time and money to aid Biloxi, Mississippi, USA, one of the 
cities hit hard by the storm. They are only 2 years into a 10-year 
plan to rebuild, but funds and volunteers are dwindling.

Biloxi today
Mississippi has the lowest per capita income of all U.S. states, and 
Biloxi residents are among the poorest in the nation, according to 
the United States Census Bureau. Almost 20,000 families live in 
trailers issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 
mainly because their hurricane-damaged or destroyed homes have yet to 
be repaired.

"Biloxi was blown away," says Ellie Vasilopoulos, the Rotary Club of 
Biloxi's disaster relief committee chair. "We lost our history, 
heritage, and historic homes. They are all gone, and Biloxi is 
stark." 

According to Dan Giordano, of the Rotary Club of Bakersfield East, 
California, news coverage of the Katrina aftermath doesn't do it 
justice. "Garbage is piled up everywhere, and the people in Biloxi 
have fallen through the cracks."

Giordano and Vasilopoulos agree that Biloxi looks like a city in a 
developing country rather than one in the United States.

Rebuilding efforts
After Katrina hit, the Biloxi club teamed up with the local First 
Presbyterian Church to help rebuild. According to Bob Bolitho, a 
pastor from South Carolina who has volunteered with the church for 
the past two years, there's still much to be done. 

"Even after two years, we receive requests for help faster than we 
can finish repairing houses," he explains. "The people we work with 
have no hope of ever living in their houses again unless we, or 
someone like us, rebuild it. What will these people do when the 
government orders them out of their FEMA trailers?"

Bolitho also says the effort is no longer attracting the volunteers 
it needs, and he fears it's becoming a losing battle. Many volunteer 
groups are starting to leave, and there aren't enough workers to 
provide desperately needed help. 

Rotary's role
The Bakersfield East club is one of many that have pitched in to 
assist those in need. The club contributed money for building 
supplies, and District 5240 (California) sent 50 mobile homes to 
Biloxi shortly after Katrina hit. Giordano has helped repair and 
construct houses there on more than one occasion and will be 
volunteering again in September.

Vasilopoulos knows firsthand how significant Rotary's aid has 
been. "Rotarians have been outstanding with their compassion, money, 
and willingness to help. So many have come down here to rebuild 
homes."

According to Bolitho, District 7300 (Pennsylvania, USA) has been 
among the relief effort's biggest supporters. Walt Sickles, of the 
Rotary Club of Ambridge, says the district has donated $85,000 and 
raised $14,000 to fund volunteer travel expenses. It has sent 17 
teams, or about 100 Rotarians, to Biloxi so far. Another group will 
be going in September, and four more soon after that.

Bolitho says the money from Rotarians primarily goes toward building 
materials, mainly for people who can't afford supplies but can do the 
physical labor needed to rebuild their homes.

"Rotary International has really made a difference in getting homes 
built," he says. "I am thankful to Rotary for all they've done."

Vasilopoulos continues to be overwhelmed by the kindness and 
dedication of Rotary volunteers. 

"It's sweltering down here," she says. "There's no air conditioning, 
but Rotarians come down here, and they come back. It blows my mind 
that they keep coming back. We could never thank them enough for 
their generosity. I hope one day we will be able to return the favor 
and be there for other Rotarians in their time of need."

How to help
Vasilopoulos says the First Presbyterian Church has plenty of space 
to host volunteers; they can house 500 through 
December. "Mississippians have been very resilient, but we still need 
help, volunteers, and money to keep coming down here." 

Courtesy: eFlash_Rotary
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://rotary9640.org/pipermail/d9640general_rotary9640.org/attachments/20070819/4494a352/attachment.html