Just Some Thoughts

I'm in Florida, on the first leg of what is about a month's worth of focus on networking and fundraising for the SBRC. In a few days, I'll experience a temperature drop of about 40 degrees as I fly from Jacksonville to Manchester, N.H. I'll be in Boston for a couple of days, meeting with a handful of people who will either be good contacts or possible donors. Snow is predicted for Friday, though. I'm supposed to visit a college in the afternoon, so I'm hoping school isn't canceled (according to an email I just read moments ago from one of the school administrators I've been in contact with, that's a very good possibility right now).

One of the families I've been very engaged with, the Basco-Woods family, finally moved out of their FEMA Trailer and into the house last week. The trailer still sits in the front yard. Jamie Basco, mom to three beautiful children, called me this past weekend to let me know the news. They still don't have electricity in the house, nor are the floors done. But in they went anyway. Jamie said all three kids have been pretty sick, and she's sure the stuffiness of that shoebox of a trailer had a lot to do with it. This family of five (six, including Jamie's brother-in-law) have been in one Trailer for two years now. One trailer. It's simply not humane. Jamie emphasized that everyone is feeling much better, though, since they got in the house, thanks to more space and better air quality. I can't wait to see it when I get back to New Orleans in early February.

On a more somber note, I also got a call from another family I've been working with. Sidney Navis, in his 80s, had a stroke last week, and is in the hospital. His son Joe called me with the news. I got to talk to Sidney on the phone, he sounded very tired and weak. But he's stable, and is supposed to be moved to a rehab facility in about a week. They think he's going to be ok, although he's really struggling with the left side of his body (I could hear it in his speech, too). The sad thing was, Joe and Sidney had just moved into their house -- like the Basco's, they had been in a FEMA trailer in front of their house for upwards of two years. Sidney had one night in a bed that I delivered to his house last week before having his stroke. I hope by the time I'm back there, his condition is much better.

Today's USA Today (January 15) had a pretty good article on long-term volunteers in the New Orleans area. The piece actually focused on some volunteers in St. Bernard Parish that I know. It's an accurate reflection of the feelings and passion of long termers, and worth a look if you're interested.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-01-14-katrina-volunteers-main_N.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-01-14-katrina-volunteers-side_N.htm