UPS Global Volunteer Month five years after Katrina

Thanksgiving has always been a day for me to reflect on the good fortune in my life. I am often reminded on this holiday that the things I cherish the most are often those I did not seek or expect.

As we drove through the neighborhoods of New Orleans on the way to St. Bernard Parish last month, I was in awe of the resilience of the people in the city. Recovering from disaster requires resources like tools or money; but without belief, determination, or spirit most would find little success.

St. Bernard Parish, a heavily impacted area near New Orleans, has not been as publicized as areas like the Lower Ninth Ward, but their need is just as great. The St. Bernard Project is a nonprofit organization working to rebuild homes, provide mental health services, and offer an opportunity housing program to families in the St. Bernard Parish area impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

During Global Volunteer Month in October, the Gulf South District UPSers volunteered at the St. Bernard Project to continue rebuilding the neighborhood. About 15 UPSers and their families worked on two homes that were damaged by 12 feet of flood water.

It is estimated that it will take 16 years to repair all the Hurricane Katrina damage and bring displaced families home. Volunteerism is a critical component to expediting the recovery process and UPSers are doing their part to make the communities where we live and work better places.

“When you volunteer, you think that you are going to be helping other people but you can’t believe the impact that it has on your life,” said Wilfred Edwards, Gulf South District Area Human Resources Manager. “There is still a lot of work to be done and we are already scheduled to do another event with the St. Bernard Project.”

Arriving at a home on Lena Drive, Package Car Driver Steven Smith, a 32-year UPSer, was surprised to find that he would be helping trim and paint the home of one of his regular delivery customers. This realization highlighted the fact that as UPSers we are very integrated with our communities.

The St. Bernard Project was started in March 2006 by Zack Rosenburg and Liz McCartney after the couple volunteered in St. Bernard in February. Inspired by the residents’ collective spirit, openness and fierce desire to rebuild their lives and community, Zack and Liz decided to create an organization that would provide vital resources and support to families. The St. Bernard Project’s story attracts volunteers from all over including site supervisor Shawn McFaw, a California native, who decided to stay after working with them as an Americorps NCCC volunteer.

The project is inspiring and its values align with UPS; both working to make a positive impact on the communities where we live and work. Thinking about that day, I find myself grateful that I was able to meet so many selfless people and observe their enthusiasm to heal their community.

When Katrina hit, like many people, I was deeply affected by what was going on there. Although I live in Atlanta and work at the UPS Corporate office, I felt like I needed to do something. So when I received an e-mail asking for volunteers to reopen the New Orleans package facility, I jumped at the opportunity. I left the day after Thanksgiving, about two months after the storm.

I knew things were going to be strange when on my first night, we got off the exit ramp to the facility and were stopped by U.S. Army Reservists carrying machine guns. We showed our UPS ID’s and they let us pass. It was soon clear why the heavy security was needed – the surrounding area was abandoned. There were homes there, but they were visibly damaged and debris was everywhere. Trash was in huge piles. Cars were strewn all over, in ditches and in the middle of the road. It looked like a war zone. Everyone in the immediate area had been evacuated and still had not returned.

Upon entering the facility, we could see the waterline on the walls, 9 feet high. I worked the twilight sort and preload from 7 p.m. to 10 a.m. for three weeks, including Sunday’s. I had one day off. Even though I had never worked in the operation, on my second day I was put in charge of a bay with ten rental trucks, and given two helpers to load them. Many of the package cars had been relocated out of the danger zone, so we had to use moving trucks instead. With a skeleton crew, the packages came fast and furious, but we threw ourselves into the task at hand. Working a double shift (sort and preload) for that many days in a row really wore me out; my knees were on fire for the last week. But I pushed through the pain to get the job done, because I knew it was for a good cause.

Everyone I worked with was from another part of the country, including the drivers. We all had answered the call to get the packages moving again in New Orleans. Since people were just starting to come back home, and were desperately in need of supplies, we felt that the packages we were getting out were incredibly important.

There are a few key things that really stick with me from that experience. First, I am thankful for what I have. But for the grace of God, it can be taken away, as it was for so many good people in New Orleans. And I saw the power of pulling together to get things done under difficult circumstances. I was glad to do my small part to help New Orleans get back on its feet. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.

In early October of 2005, I went to New Orleans, just five weeks after Hurricane Katrina, to document the stories of the UPSers who were working so hard to get their lives and UPS’s business up and running again. I witnessed many images that will stick with me….the mountainous piles of debris on every corner….the black hearses parked in a grassy median (apparently in an attempt to avoid the flooding), all lined up and pointing directly to the Superdome and its partially destroyed roof. And the images of UPSers faces … people hurting, struggling, but fighting to regain their lives. In the six days I spent in New Orleans, I learned a great deal about our company and our people. I hope the video that resulted from my trip, Beyond Katrina: Saluting The Spirit of UPS People, adequately captured the heart and soul of what makes UPS people great.

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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