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Why am I 4NOLA and the St. Bernard Project post-Katrina rebuilding efforts?
In October 2006 my own home in Southern California was destroyed by an act of nature. I had two days to vacate and it was determined that insurance would not cover the destruction. Having worked hard to own this home, it was extremely painful to be displaced and have the dream of homeownership taken away. As I got back on my feet during this process I looked around at other families that had been impacted in a similar way and knew that I wanted to help others return home in the process of doing my own healing.
I volunteered with several home building charities but after seeing the CNN story of Liz McCartney and learning that she was awarded the 2008 CNN Hero of the Year, I knew I wanted to explore volunteering with the St. Bernard Project (SBP) and the post-Katrina home rebuilding efforts.
In my experience I have found SBP to have a very efficient solution to get families back home quickly. Just 12 weeks, $15,000 and volunteer labor and a family is able to move back home. As of November 2009 SBP has completed 245 homes in its rebuilding efforts.
I am now returning to New Orleans on my third volunteer effort with SBP. I have been able to meet the hardworking families that have been living in temporary dwellings and are still eagerly waiting to return home 4 years after Katrina so that they may resume their lives.
My own personal dream was to sponsor a house so that I knew one family could return home. In July 2009 I was pleased to be able to commit the funds to make this happen. I could finish my own healing by knowing that my own difficulty had been transformed into changing another’s life for the positive.
It is my wish to continue to volunteer and support the countless families that are still awaiting homes. SBP still needs funding to continue the rebuilding efforts. A very small donation can make a difference:
- $10 donation buys one box of nails (for you and me, it’s one breakfast)
- $50 donation buys a low flow toilet (for you and me, it’s five iTunes CDs)
- $100 donation buys a kitchen sink (for you and me it’s an iPod nano)
- $250 donation buys front and back doors (for you and me, it’s 2 months of lattes)
- $500 donation buys siding (for you and me, it’s one car payment)
- $1,000 donation buys drywall (for you and me, it’s one month’s rent or “partial rent”)
- $15,000 buys a house!
I appreciate any support that you can offer to the St. Bernard Project and the families that wish to move back home. Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. Note that your contributions are tax deductible in the United States.
You can also view my YouTube video for the St. Bernard Project at www.4NOLA.org or by the following link:
Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!
Sincerely,
Beverlee Morse
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