The UPS 2010 United Way campaign began earlier this month. I traveled to New Orleans this past weekend to support a special United Way volunteer event —  kicking off the New Orleans area campaign and helping a very special family return home.  

This year’s campaign is pretty exciting; within days UPS will reach $1 billion in contributions during a 28-year partnership with United Way. But, in true UPS fashion, the giving doesn’t stop with funding. UPS employees across the country volunteered 1.2 million hours in 2009 and are on track to do more of the same this year.

With almost 60 volunteers, we worked on four homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina almost five years ago. On Saturday, our goal was to get the Treaudos moved from a FEMA trailer that’s been camped on their front lawn.  So, with the help of volunteers like Wilfred Barnes, Donna Marlborough (logistics goddess), Norman Penn, Daniel Campo, Brian Forte’, The UPS Foundation’s own Janice Johnson and daughter Jessica and AmeriCorp volunteer Kim Benty (kept us all in line), we got the Treaudo house cleaned and ready for move in…in the balmy Louisiana heat!     

Just as the rest of their neighbors, Vern and Royce Treaudos returned to a house that held eight feet of water for more than two weeks when the levy broke in 2005. They had to start from scratch and were victims of contractor fraud, but they were determined to get into their home. 

A few months ago they got a push. UPS partnered with the St. Bernard Project and United Way’s NO Place Like Home campaign to move local families from temporary housing back into their own permanent homes, and the Treaudos were selected to receive the assistance.  

“I just loved working with the Treaudo family. They are so grateful,” said Lisa Martin, St. Bernard Project case manager and Americorp volunteer. “They have a hard time asking for help and really appreciate when it’s given.” 

This was Lisa’s first “Welcome Home” party as a St. Bernard Project case manager. “Royce told me, ‘when I get back in my house, I’m going to have a barbeque,’” she explained to the crowd. “Today, July 24 we’re barbequing and the Treaudos get their home!”

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