Nuns Build 2009

A Collaborative Project to Help Rebuild Homes in New Orleans

by Sharon Yount, OP
Sister Sharon "mudding" around the window.
New Orleans LA ~ Nuns Build was a wonderful experience of working together with Dominicans and others from across the country.

Eighteen congregations participated in Nuns Build with about 80 sisters and 10-12 friends and family. We worked on ten different housing sites, and many Sisters in the area opened their homes to house us. I stayed with the Sisters of the Holy Family along with six other Dominicans. They were very gracious hosts. They would not be in their Motherhouse if it were not for volunteers who came to rebuild after the first floor was filled with several feet of water after Katrina.
Members of the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, Peace, Racine, and Hope pose in front of the Greer home, which was their assignment for the week.
Our crew of seven travelled each day to a housing site in Arabi (adjacent to the Lower Ninth Ward), that will become the Greer family home. The Greers lost everything during Hurricane Katrina. They are a younger couple with four children, ranging in age from seven to eleven months. When they and others are asked why they want to come back to the New Orleans/St. Bernard Parish area, the reply is simple, “This is our home.” Our crew included a 26 year old candidate, a 32 year old novice, three other sisters – ages 63, 71, and 74, and myself – age 61. Age didn’t matter; everyone participated with 110% enthusiasm, as much energy as they could generate, and bathroom breaks when necessary!
The crew enjoys a lunch break down by a natural levee.
At other housing sites, sisters were mudding and taping, painting, texturing, or installing sheetrock. In a week, only so much can be accomplished, but every bit moves the family closer to move-in day. Each person felt as if she had contributed to this effort.

Each day, local folks made and brought us bag lunches. But on Wednesday, all of the Sisters travelled to a Homecoming Party. Deola, who is 80+, was being given back her home. Previous St. Bernard Project volunteers had completed the rebuilding process, and she was moving back in. Deola had us all in tears as she spoke of losing the home she grew up in to Katrina, and we rejoiced with her as she thanked God and everyone else for helping her rebuild.
Deola expresses her gratitude to the volunteers at her Homecoming Party.
The crew gives the Dominican Blessing to the Greer home and to Andy, the on-side supervisor, at the end of the week.
The Greer family home!
The people of St. Bernard’s Parish are so grateful for everyone’s help. They know they cannot do it alone. One example: a story from a K of C appreciation dinner host in Chalmette, which is next to Arabi. His home was left uninhabitable by Katrina (as was every home in the Parish). Gifts of school supply-filled backpacks, etc. for all the children of the area from students at Chaminade High School on Long Island were received. He travelled with his son to the school some time later to personally thank them. He said that his son, a rather quiet boy, had something to say to the student body: “My dad has always been my hero. He could do and fix everything. But when Katrina came, he couldn’t fix anything, and I felt like I lost my dad; he was so sad. Thank you for helping us, and for giving my dad back to me!”

As we drove through Chalmette and Arabi neighborhoods each day, we passed homes that were completely rebuilt and lovely, other homes with yellow signs and a red “X,” indicating that they were still to be torn down. We saw empty slabs, slabs that crews were cleaning to remove asbestos or mold, or slabs painted brick red, having been cleaned, and ready for a home to be rebuilt. There were walkways ending in steps that lead to nothing and empty yards where homes once stood. Neighborhoods are now only partially filled. The sad statistic that we heard so often is that four years after Katrina, there are still 12,000 families living in FEMA trailers and other temporary housing, who are waiting to rebuild their homes, but cannot do it alone. I was very happy to represent the Dominican Sisters of Hope at Nuns Build.

The next Nuns Build is scheduled for May 31 - June 5, 2010. Another is scheduled for November 15-20, 2010. If you would like more information about Nuns Build or other St. Bernard Projects, go to: www.stbernardproject.org.

The "nun builders" enjoy an appreciation dinner sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.
BACK