Rivers Returns to New Orleans for a Fifth Year of Service

For the fifth year, a group of Rivers students dedicated part of their winter break to the ongoing rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. It may seem hard to believe that residents are still dealing with the aftereffects of Hurricane Katrina, but students were shocked by the amount of devastation still visible seven years later.

"There is definitely a long way to go since so many families have not yet returned home,” said Mac Caplan, who has been a faculty advisor on this trip for all five years.

Fifteen juniors and three faculty members—Caplan, Susanna Donahue, and Kathleen Nicholson—spent four days replacing the interior walls of a house in Meraux, one of the worst hit neighborhoods. The project was organized by the non-profit St. Bernard Project, and the site supervisors, young Americorp volunteers, were inspiring role models for the students.

“The trip made a huge impact on me,” said Lindsey Ades ’14. “Each day was definitely long and tiring, but we were proud and excited as we watched the owner's house progress throughout the week. It felt really good to know that we were helping her return home.”

The group stayed at the local Annunciation Mission and spent the evenings experiencing New Orleans culture, including a show at Preservation Hall and bowling to the ever-popular Zydeco beat. They took part in a “Welcome Home” ribbon-cutting ceremony at a completed St. Bernard Project, served breakfast at a nearby soup kitchen, and learned about the challenges faced by the local schools post-Katrina from a colleague of Caplan.

“All of these activities add up to a cultural experience that is truly eye-opening and unforgettable for the students,” commented Donahue.

“Rivers will continue to help out in New Orleans as long as there is work to be done," concluded Caplan.