Gulf Coast Rebirth Center Rises from the Volunteer Program

The words, "Thank you, Hurricane Volunteers — You alone have made a difference," painstakingly formed out of blue duct tape, are frequently emblazoned on the back of the KatrinaRitaVille Express, a FEMA trailer, which was parked in front of the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center during GA.

Like other GA attendees, I took the opportunity to step inside the FEMA trailer to see what life is like for families who have had to live in the trailers since hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast almost three years ago. The trailer is so small that you have to step outside to change your mind. "How on earth could a family of six live in one of these things?" I wondered.

The FEMA trailer, and a sister trailer, were purchased by several Gulf Coast organizations for a FEMA trailer road show around the United States to raise awareness of the continuing crisis in the region and the lack of coherent government action to rebuild to meet the needs of poor and minority residents, who are still without housing or adequate government assistance.

Despite the obstacles, Gulf Coast survivors have mounted an extraordinary effort to rebuild their homes and their lives. It is both profoundly moving and depressing that the only real support and solidarity that they are getting is coming from volunteers, not from our government. Volunteer work is important, but not sufficient: it should be complemented by the type of large-scale problem-solving and resources that only government can provide.

UUs, of course, represent a considerable number of Gulf Coast volunteers who have come to the region since the 2005 hurricanes. Over 2,000 people have participated in the UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Volunteer Program to date. At GA, the UUA and UUSC officially transferred the stewardship of the joint UUA-UUSC volunteer program to a coalition of New Orleans UU churches known as the Greater New Orleans Unitarian Universalists (GNOUU). It will now be stewarded by the coalition's New Orleans Rebirth Volunteer Center.

I was both happy and sad when UUA and UUSC staff handed GNOUU a check for $125,000 to help launch the new volunteer center. Happy, because the coalition has done an extraordinary job of getting ready to take on the responsibility of managing the volunteer program and because it belongs in their hands. Sad, because I've been proud of UUSC's direct connection to this life-changing experience for so many UUs.

However, the UUA and UUSC's commitment to the Gulf Coast, and to the volunteer program itself, has definitely not ended. GNOUU and the Rebirth Center will continue to need time, money, and support from UUs and others. In addition to volunteering our hands and hearts, we must continue to contribute our advocacy efforts to ensure a just recovery for the people of the Gulf Coast.