Wow. We did so much in so little time – again.
Service trip #4 was everything we hoped for and more –There was a lot of sweat and, more importantly, a lot of heart – and we’ve proven that that combined with our Global Hope Spirit can accomplish anything and everything – and we are proud to say that we did just that!
Here’s the list:
- Transformed a filled-to-the-brim storage room into a functional resource/tutoring center and revived some precious educational materials.
- Built 5 large custom wood bookshelf units for the storage room
- Painted the interior and exterior of the school’s grand two-story, multi-room entryway.
- Painted 7 sets of exterior playground doors (removing all wooden screens from windows first)
- Repaired and patched various windows, doors and trim around the school.
- Painted over graffiti around school
- Purchased and installed 12 bulletin boards to hang outside each classroom and re-located a chalkboard and bulletin board.
- Cleaned out all storm sewers to eliminate flooding in the parking lot and playground.
- Donated a professional pitching machine to Cohen High School’s baseball team
- Donated and hung an original art mural to grace the school’s entry hallway.
- Designed, created and hung a new sign on the school entrance.
- Donated a truckload full of books, educational materials, and athletic equipment
- Donated school uniforms and beginning of the year school supplies for 550 students
Over the weekend, many volunteers continued to show up – 39 in total.
17 Global Hope volunteers from Chicago
2 employees of the Louisiana Recovery School District in New Orleans working on their holiday
3 volunteers from Georgia – They said they came down to “help out their brothers and sisters.” An hour after their arrival in New Orleans, they just showed up offering to help paint. A good cause can give you unbelievable energy.
10 long-term volunteers from Common Ground Relief – These young volunteers were enthusiastic and enjoyable to work with. We learned about each other’s lives as we worked and chatted. Nick had his family from Minnesota come visit the work site and got his brother to help.
6 students from New College in Sarasota, FL, 2 of whom (Britney & Wynn) designed and painted the school’s new sign
1 student from Tulane University (Nick’s brother, Sam)
We ALSO thank all of you at home for your donations, checks, gift cards, good wishes and blessings. We could not do this without you
AND . . . we thank Thom Pepper from Common Ground Relief for his continued support of Global Hope, the Ninth Ward and all of New Orleans.
We thank them all!
As shared by Michael Taylor, “Our lives have become so insular in the hectic, modern world that it is hard to make connections and to see that there is this common humanity, this goodness in all of us looking for some place to manifest this love. Working with all these people gave me great hope for the future generation believing that their experience down here might help ignite fires in the hearts of their contemporaries. You can blow out the candle but you can’t put out the fire.”
Drew Elementary has been transformed and will never be quite the same – and we are proud of that. Working and sharing – heart to heart- in this unique experience of service has transformed each and every one of us. We will never be quite the same either – and we are grateful for that.
