This report and photos are brought to us thanks to Mary Wakefield, a St. Francis Parish member who visited New Orleans in May.  Mary was a member of one of our past St. Francis Going South groups that went to New Orleans to help gut houses. 
 Mary Wakefield, said, “It was refreshing to see building going on in New Orleans while I was there May 19-20, 2007.   Through Catholic Charities - New Orleans (staff: Debbie Koehler) I met a wonderful home owner, Mrs. Doris Aubrey.” (photo above: Mary & Doris)
 To date (5/20/2007), Catholic Charities - New Orleans have gutted 1800 homes and senior apartments. The renovations have begun thanks to the joint efforts of various volunteer groups under the Catholic Charities organization and Habitat for Humanity for two examples. Note: Again financial support like St. Francis Parish 2007 Lenten Project sent for Ms. Rowena's home and other homes are invaluable contributions that helped to support the poor, disabled, and elderly in rebuilding their homes in New Orleans after the flood damage of Hurricane Katrina.
 Ms. Doris Aubry showed where the water level settled in the first floor of her two story home (photo left). Her home is being restored and as she described, with a smile,  "You have to be a kin of Job."    This room had held musical instruments and family treasures all lost in the flooding from the breech of the London Avenue Canal. 
 Ms. Doris Aubrey has a garden she is revitalizing in the back, she is still in her FEMA trailer on the property but soon will be in her home. She has gone thru the application, inspection, final clean up, mold remediation, contractor, her own money, and she is still waiting for ROAD HOME support and still smiling! 
 Ms.Aubry raised 5 children in this home. We are in the kitchen with some of the new cabinets in. This is where money from parishes like ours is going. 
 Debbie Koehler in the red shirt took me to visit another Catholic Charities site, showing again how invaluable donations of money and time are here. This group is from the POHLAD FOUNDATION (owns the Minnesota Twins)  NOTE: the man at the top of the ladder spent part of his life in Michigan and started singing the UM FIGHT SONG! 
 The music is calling us all to visit our Gulf Coast neighbors. 

 See more photos at: www.stfrancisa2.com/adopt-a-house
 

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