1/10/2008

SBRC Truck Run #3

On December 26, we loaded up another UHaul full of donated furniture. My brother Todd and his wife Aquilina did an awesome job rallying an array of neighbors, friends, co-workers and family to help out and give some things they may have no longer needed or wanted to change over, while Erin got an apartment's worth of furniture from a family member in New York. Combined, all those things were enough to fill another 17-foot UHaul to the brim.

I arrived back in New Orleans the night of December 28th, and on Saturday the 29th, about seven families we specifically invited met me at the warehouse where I store our donated items. These were all families who have either just moved back into a home or are about to, and need things ASAP. As we unloaded, they looked, sorted through and chose what they needed most. The good thing is, I know these families well enough by now that getting them to manage who gets what and to not take anything they don't need was easy. I must have heard the comment, "that's ok, that should go to someone who needs it more than we do", a half dozen times. The residents are really good about only taking what they need. We also used the UHaul to deliver things to three homes for people who didn't have big enough cars or trucks to take it themselves.

It was another successful distribution for St. Bernard Recovery Corp. and for the residents we're helping. I know we made some people very happy that day. Thanks to all who donated and contributed, Erin, Todd, Aquilina, family and friends. We made a difference. I'll be in Maryland in a week doing a similar effort with my younger brother Chris, some of his wife's family and their neighbors.

Below are shutterfly links to the see all the pictures. The first link has pics of us loading at Todd's house. The second link contains all the pictures taken by Volunteer Chris Hinchey (see blog posting from 1/8/08 below) during her stay. Picture numbers 65 - 154 are from the Distribution we did on Saturday, Dec. 29.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AatmbNk3bsmLCOA&emid=sharview&linkid=link2


http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AcsmjNk3ZOHJQ&emid=sharshar&linkid=link2

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