Lakewood Elementary cooked up Louisiana’s best gumbo to feed students from the University of Berkley in Califorina who took a break to eat a hardy meal in Luling after a long day of rebuilding homes in New Orleans.
Twenty students from various parts of California gave up their traditional spring break plans to commit to the project and to be part of the rebuilding effort by participating in a program called Alternative Break.
“Instead of just doing the usual things college students do during spring break, we decided to participate in the program and do our part to help storm victims from New Orleans,” Alice Chamberlain, a student worker, said. “Not much has changed from the last time I came to participate in the recovery effort.”
At the end of a long day the students were disappointed that they couldn’t help more residents.
“We painted the exterior and the interior of the homes, gutted houses and did our best to give the people living in the lower ninth ward community a hand up,” Chavonne LeNoir, an Oakland resident and student, said. “After being in the city 10 days it’s hard to leave knowing everyone wasn’t going to be helped.”
LeNoir says helping rebuild has its ups and downs.
“You feel like while this person’s house is up and ready to go, the next person’s house needs work too, and it’s just not enough time to do all that needs to be done in the community,” she said.
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