Today... 40 percent of New Orleans homes are still without power. Half as many hospital beds are available as before Katrina Government officials estimate that 500,000 people may need mental-health assistance to deal with higher rates of anxiety, depression and hostility.
Not long ago staff with the Harvard Graduate School Christian Fellowship spoke with a volunteer coordinator in New Orleans. When we asked if they could use us back to work this year (a fifth trip), notably moved, he said, "Tell your friends thanks for not forgetting us!" So we're heading down...
For the last four years, the HGSCF has made the trip to New Orleans, in conjunction with Urban Impact and Castlerock Church, to serve the community and God. Part of their daily programming includes joining other volunteers for a chapel service. Each evening we examine issues that come up and explore the intersection of faith, reason and service including training in racial reconciliation. This year, the trip will be co-lead and co-sponsored by the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard, which is dedicated to building, educating, and nurturing a diverse community of Humanists, agnostics, atheists, and the non-religious at Harvard and beyond. The HCH community holds community service as one of its most important values. Humanists see serving others as central to human goodness, and as one of the most important ways we grow as individuals and as a community. We plan to include secular and Humanist readings and speakers to compliment those chosen by the HGSCF. What is your framework? If you give your spring break to help the people of New Orleans, you can help a community to rebuild, learn about the complex issues facing their recovery, and explore how to pursue justice and service in your own life. Whether you identify as Christian, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, or nothing in particular, please join us on this trip as we serve the victims of Katrina and engage in conversation about what service means to us. Schedule. Each day, teams will serve a local organization or individual with clean-up and rebuilding needs in the city. The typical day will begin with breakfast and then service projects from 8:30am to 3:30pm. Following an afternoon break and dinner, there will be opportunities to reflect on the events of the day. Depending on our energy level, we head out later and continue the discussion over New Orleans-style fare.
Diversity and Growth. The Katrina Relief Urban Plunge welcomes students and faculty from different religious, spiritual and secular traditions. We believe that working together in service is a great way to grow and learn from one another - that we benefit personally and our projects are better as we bring our different perspectives to the work.
Requirements. We will have 3 required orientation meetings before flying to New Orleans. Also, participants must ensure that they are current with Tetanus shots. Costs. The base cost of $350 will cover all transportation within New Orleans, lodging, food, and materials. Each of us will cover the cost of our own airfare. Half-price discount! Through our "bring-a-friend" program, you can participate in the Katrina Relief Urban Plunge if you are new to InterVarsity and/or Humanist activities or you bring a friend who is new. If you are a fellowship member and your friend comes also, you both go for $350.
If you have any questions, contact your local InterVarsity campus staffworker or Caitlin Dalton. The "bring-a-friend" program intends to encourage students from diverse ethnic, political, and spiritual backgrounds to participate in the Katrina Relief Urban Plunge. Therefore members of InterVarsity and other campus Christian groups -- while certainly encouraged to invite friends to come along -- may not count as each other's friends for the purposes of the discount.
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