WHILE WE WERE IN NEW ORLEANS IN NOVEMBER, WE WORKED DIRECTLY WITH PEOPLE IN THE NINTH WARD, ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT AREAS OF THE CITY.
Orion Associates, Meridian Services, and Zenith Services sent thirty-five employees and volunteers to New Orleans’ Ninth Ward to help with clean up efforts after Hurricane Katrina, over Thanksgiving weekend, November 25 to 28, 2005.
Our organization has a history of supporting volunteerism in our communities. Marya Hage, our founder, and Dr. Rebecca Thomley, our Chief Executive Officer, have been involved with disaster work through the Red Cross for many years. Both served in New Orleans and Baton Rouge immediately after Hurricane Katrina, to assist with the mental health efforts. As a result of the contacts they made during these trips, and with their leadership, the organization committed itself to help the people of New Orleans.
While we were in New Orleans in November, we worked directly with people in the Ninth Ward, one of the hardest hit areas of the city. Our preparation for this effort included seeking donations of supplies and cash from friends, family and the community. We filled a semi truck with cleaning and building supplies and met the truck in New Orleans. Many people and organizations generously donated money and goods to help fill the truck. We were truly thankful for the support as were the people we met in the Ninth Ward.
During this stay, we gutted six homes, a day care center and a church, so that additional clean up and repair work could begin. We were grateful for the opportunity to help. We gave money to some families and supplies including beds, blankets and clothing to others. Most of the cleaning and building supplies were left for use by the community as they rebuild. The people we met were very thankful as they have had so little support.
While we worked very hard, we left realizing that we had been able to make only a small contribution in the face of such an overwhelming disaster. We made the decision to return as soon as we could.
We intend to fill another truck with supplies and to return over the Martin Luther King, Junior weekend, January 13 to 16, 2006, with the goal of continuing to assist people who need help preparing their homes for rebuilding.
Once again we are relying on donations in order to make this happen. The items currently being requested include: trash bags 3ml; medical masks; tarps; empty gas cans; cleaning supplies; hand sanitizer; paper towels; work gloves; shop vacuums; joint compound; nails; sheet rock; brooms; wheel barrels and shovels. We are also seeking cash donations.
In order to donate, please contact Jill Cihlar, 1-877-656-7466 ext 1101, or at 612-239-6928 or e-mail her at jcihlar@meridiansvs.com.
All tax deductible donations should be made to the:
Zenith Services, Incorporated Disaster Relief Fund
44 North 28th Avenue, Suite A
St. Cloud, Minnesota 56303
“River of Hope” Project Participants
Jennifer Abrahamson, Penny Archer, Tami Beier, Leota Bemis, Jessica Bergstrom, Alicia Corbett, Jeff Daiker, Alec Demgen, Julia Demgen, Alyssa Dotson, Geo Goglidze, Gina Guggisberg, Jen Haller, Melissa Helmbrecht, Crystal Hillmer, Kathleen Holz, Erin Huldeen, Emily Jeremiason, Pastor Warren Jones, Heather Lauer, Corinne Lozinski, Tammy Maschler, Sara Mosher, Molly Oeffling, Sarah Olsen, Malinda Rundquist, Jenny Schraut, Alexander Thomley, Luke Thomley Rebecca Thomley, Toni Thulen, Jen Van Rooy, Cheryl Vennerstrom, Jody Voges, Sharon Weiss
“River of Hope” Project Sponsors
The following agencies and businesses have generously contributed to our “River of Hope” project. In addition, over a hundred individuals have given to our efforts as well. We would like to express our gratitude and deep appreciation to everyone whose donations have made our work in New Orleans possible. Thank you!
Abrams & Smith – Minneapolis
Ace Hardware – Long Prairie
Alpine Capital LLC – New Brighton
Anderson Engineering
Apperts Food
Artistic Stone, Incorporated – Avon
Berg Bag Company
Bethel University (Social Work Group)
Bird Island United Methodist Church
City of Bird Island
Copeland Buhl Company
Crystal Kuemper and Quilters
Dan Leitner Consulting
Day Distributing
Equinox Creative Production
Fun Factory Day Care
Furniture Clearance Center
Geriton Medical Supply
Grumpy’s
Hirshfield’s
Hunstiger Hillcrest Farms
Indoff – Sauk Rapids
Industrial Metals, Incorporated
Kindercare
Long Prairie Food Center
Long Prairie Lumber Yard
Long Prairie Packing Company
M & I Bank
Mankato Truck Repair
Marco Business Products
Minnesota Public Radio
Northern PCS Services
Oakridge Elemetnry
Office Depot
Petersen Motorworks, Incorporated
Promotion Resource Alliance
Sacred Heart Elementary
Sherwin Williams
Spalon Montage
Spectrum Transportation – Maple Grove
Theisen Building Supplies – Kimball
Trillium Services – Duluth
Twin City Tile & Marble Company – Saint Paul
Voyager School
Walgreens
Warner Manufacturing Company – Minneapolis
Western Bank – Mounds View
Yellowstone Quilt