ProJo Faye & Mel in NOLA http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/ Journal Society Writer Faye Zuckerman and her Daughter, Melanie Chitwood, spend spring break volunteering in New Orleans. en Copyright 2007 Tue, 25 Apr 2006 20:43:26 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Faye: Not a happy ending Back at work on Monday, April 24, I’m still trying to sort out all that I experienced in NOLA. I’m thrilled to discover that a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter from New Orleans’ major daily newspaper, the Times Picayune, is giving a seminar on fine-tuning writing skills.

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/faye_not_a_happy_ending.html http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/faye_not_a_happy_ending.html Tue, 25 Apr 2006 20:43:26 -0500 Mel and Coco This one is coming in a little late, but never late than better. I mean better late than never.

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/mel_and_coco.html http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/mel_and_coco.html Sun, 23 Apr 2006 20:29:09 -0500 Faye: Our last day Mel and I have been looking forward to spending our last night in NOLA with the Grecos. We return to the FEMA trailer where we stayed the first night.

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/faye_our_last_day_1.html http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/faye_our_last_day_1.html Thu, 20 Apr 2006 20:55:09 -0500 Faye: Is E.C. closing? At camp, rumors are flying over why E.C. is closing June 15. Some say, it’s because of hurricane season, which started June 1. The tents will not survive in the high winds – more than 40 miles per hour. Others believe that the local government has kicked E.C. out. We are competing with local establishments that have been re-opened.

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/faye_is_ec_closing_1.html http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/faye_is_ec_closing_1.html Thu, 20 Apr 2006 08:32:32 -0500 Faye: You haven't forgotten us I’m at the Walgreens, a few blocks from E.C. It opened about two weeks ago. I need to buy batteries. The women, with full carts, on the check-out line tell me to get in front of them.

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/faye_you_havent_forgotten_us_1.html http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/faye_you_havent_forgotten_us_1.html Wed, 19 Apr 2006 14:55:21 -0500 Mel: Super Melanie and the Chocolate Disaster Yesterday I actually learned how to cook with love. I was used as a chef for the Made with Love Café, and as I ate my dinner, I was definitely feeling the love. Let me start from the beginning of the day.

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/mel_super_melanie_and_the_choc.html http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/mel_super_melanie_and_the_choc.html Wed, 19 Apr 2006 10:27:19 -0500 Faye: The demolition bunch Today we did some good. Can’t say I felt that way about yesterday (Sunday). I’ll have more on that later.

Mel and I signed up to ``demolish’’ a house.

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/faye_the_demolition_bunch.html http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/faye_the_demolition_bunch.html Mon, 17 Apr 2006 21:39:22 -0500 Mel: Bongos give me a headache A lot has happened since I've written last. So I guess I should just start from where my mom left off...I think, but I may repeat some things.

We arrived at Emergency Communities at 10:15 a.m. and began our day with a tour. There is a kitchen tent, a "Smoke Pit" (which is where they barbeque the food), a free store, the distribution tent (this is where they give canned food to residents), a storage tent, the Rejuvenation Station (which is like a schools nurse's office in a tent), 4 trucks that hold food, 5 showers, a lot of port-a-potties (and they smell horrible!) and countless tents.

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/mel_bongos_give_me_a_headache.html http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/mel_bongos_give_me_a_headache.html Mon, 17 Apr 2006 16:01:48 -0500 Faye: Nothing to salvage Destin Pizer opens the door to his home one block from the breach in the 17th Street levy.

Mel and I are overwhelmed by the smell. Imagine your grandmother’s attic or musty basement but 100 times worse.

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/faye_nothing_to_salvage_1.html http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/faye_nothing_to_salvage_1.html Sun, 16 Apr 2006 21:03:11 -0500 Mel: The storm is not over There aren’t words to describe what you see as you drive through the streets of New Orleans. In fact, my evening was so…so unbelievable; I don’t think that I can describe it.

People think that NOLA is back to normal, but it’s not. Most of the houses are in ok shape.

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/mel_the_storm_is_not_over_1.html http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/mel_the_storm_is_not_over_1.html Sun, 16 Apr 2006 19:16:09 -0500 Mel: Nola still needs help There aren’t words to describe what you see as you drive through the streets of New Orleans. In fact, my evening was so…so unbelievable; I don’t think that I can describe it.

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/mel_nola_still_needs_help.html http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/mel_nola_still_needs_help.html Sun, 16 Apr 2006 09:35:02 -0500 Faye: Post K and post-stress Mel and I are introduced to our waitress ``as friends from Rhode Island’’ who have come to NOLA to help out.

``Oh, thank you, really, thank you so much,’’ says waitress Elisha Diamond, who is about to leave for graduate school. ``When you go back, you need to tell everyone we still need lots of help here.’’

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/faye_post_k_and_poststress.html http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/faye_post_k_and_poststress.html Sun, 16 Apr 2006 08:39:05 -0500 Mel: We arrive today Well, I lied. We’re not in New Orleans yet; we’re in New York City staying with my Aunt and Uncle, as well as my three cousins.

Our plane will leave from LaGuardia in two hours. I think they might need 2 planes to compensate for everything we plan on bringing.

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/mel_we_depart_tomorrow_1.html http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/mel_we_depart_tomorrow_1.html Sat, 15 Apr 2006 09:55:55 -0500 The rebuilding process I’ve been playing telephone tag with Mary Greco for nearly 10 days.

I’m grateful when I finally hear her wonderful southern twang. ``I heard you all are coming down here,’’ she says. She invites Mel and me to stay with her the first night we arrive in New Orleans.

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/the_rebuilding_process_1.html http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/the_rebuilding_process_1.html Fri, 14 Apr 2006 20:37:41 -0500 A plea for help The phone rings at my desk. It’s my friend and colleague M.B. She’s just back from New Orleans, and wants to meet me for lunch. Our conversation is rapid-fire.

``Everybody needs to see New Orleans and Biloxi,’’ she says. She has family and friends in both places. They all were devastated by Katrina. ``There’s nothing there. It’s like a giant wave washed over the both places, and took everything with it.’’

I tell her of our plans to work at a relief kitchen in the city of Arabi, one of the hardest hit areas. My interest is on how young people are coping, and on volunteering opportunities for families. How can the under-18 crowd help out in NOLA?

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/a_plea_for_help_1.html http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/nola/2006/04/a_plea_for_help_1.html Thu, 13 Apr 2006 19:07:19 -0500