Woodstock, Vermonts

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Woodstock, Vermonts North Universalist Chapel
Societys Hurricane Relief Trip 2005 to New
Iberia, Louisiana, to work with Southern Mutual
Help Associations Rural Recovery Task Force
2
Orientation at Victors w/ Judy Herring Juanita
Alvarez-Mainster
Judy was our primary contact with SMHA became a
good friend to us all.
3
Lorna Bourg Sister Helen Vinton are the
inspiration behind Southern Mutual Help
Association.
4
Our first day in the field. . . . doing
assessments on Lamas Street in Erath, Louisiana
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Seeing the Hurricanes Force in Esther
Intercoastal City
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The destruction was even found in cemeteries.
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Our Main Project Repairing the
Hurricane-Damaged Home of The Rossers Karen, Brad
and their seven adopted/foster children Terra,
Frankie, Lynn, Dasha, Derrick, Monika Tylor
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Cleaning the Mold tearing out rotted walls
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. . .and Rotted Floors. . .
10
Haulin Pilin
Our first of several piles.
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But they kept taking our piles away (each time
with a bigger tractor).
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Many of us learned To use new tools. . .
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After tearing the rotted floors out, we replaced
them with new ones.
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At Last! the FEMA trailers arrived to be
followed by NUMEROUS inspectors.
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We put in the floor for the new kitchen (all new
construction must be 11 above sea level -- the
rest of the house is at about 8, so there will
be three steps up to the new kitchen from the
rest of the house).
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And later the walls and roof.
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As we returned to Vermont, we reflected on how
much there is that still needs to be done. . .
We hope many other volunteers will follow us in
the coming months and years to continue the work
of SMHAs Rural Recovery Response to rebuild
rural Louisiana better than it was before.
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If your church or college is interested in
sending a team to volunteer, contactJudy
Herring atSMHA_at_SouthernMutualHelp.org

• If you are interested in making a contribution to
  support this kind of work, visit SMHAs website
  at
• www.SouthernMutualHelp.org