Diary of Local Teens in New Orleans: Day 4

NEW ORLEANS—Welcome to The NOLA Tree's  New Orleans blog. The NOLA Tree is a Larchmont based non-profit organization that operates teen volunteer community development programs in both New Orleans and New York.

For the next week, we're here in the Lower Ninth Ward with a group of teenagers, many from the Larchmont-Mamaroneck area. We're going to be sharing our experience on a daily basis right here. Read us each day this week.

Day 4

Hey all,

It was another glorious day here in the Crescent City, and like yesterday, we were up before the sun, and off to our job site before 7:30 in the morning.

Today, we were in two locations. Liza, Sofia, Emily and Indy spent their day at St. Jude's Community Center.  After helping clean up for the volunteers there, they prepared lunches for the homeless and impoverished.  Each day, St. Jude's feeds over 100 meals to those in need.

The rest of us were at a home a few miles from Camp Hope.  We had a variety of tasks and everyone rose to the challenge.  Max, Alejandro, and Wesley worked tirelessly clearing the yard.  They hauled countless garbage cans filled with rubble to the dumpster (which was overflowing by the end of the day).  We also did a lot of painting.  Caroline and Jorge worked the rollers, while Julianna, Sophia, Julian and Skyye tackled the doors, windows and columns.  We completed all the work that needed to be done at the house...a pretty cool feeling!

On the way back to Camp Hope, we stopped at Ms. Nathalie's house on Royal Street in the Lower Ninth Ward.  Several of the volunteers had worked at her home previously; she's always so gracious.  She invited one of the summer groups back for crawfish on the front porch in July!

By the way, the food at Camp Hope is quite good.  Tonight was spaghetti night.   Dessert was chocolate pudding.  Ask Phil about that.

Well, right now, we're off for a walk.  It's a beautiful night (yes, we're rubbing it in, considering the weather back home) and too glorious to stay indoors.  After that, we're going to de-brief outside this evening.  We have lots to talk about.
Finally, please take a moment to check out our blog (written by Emily Carpenter, one of our volunteers) on The Local, The New York Times online website.

Peace,
Phil Bildner and Ana Galan
Co-Executive Directors
The NOLA Tree