Gulf Coast Relief Weekend I

 

On Friday, December 9, 2005, seven CISV Atlanta Area members arrived at CISV Gulf Coast president, Denise Longino's home to report for hurricane clean-up duty.

 

Bill Howe, Tait Anberg, Garry, Connie, Tim, Kailtyn and Ryan Banning were welcomed by Louis and Denise Longino.  We got an introduction to the Longino clan, stories and pictures of the hurricane and its destructive force, an idea of what we were to face in the morning, and a good night's sleep.

 

We woke up in the morning to a hearty breakfast and stepped outside to see, first hand, the effects of the hurricane.  There was debris everywhere: cars, trucks, limbs, marsh grass, lumber, roofs, downed trees, gas cans, etc.  We had our work cut out for us.  Main project: clear the 100-yard driveway.

 

Louis and Denise lead us through a day of raking, chainsawing, clearing, moving, pitch forking, hauling, yanking, sweating, towing, drinking water, cleaning, loading, unloading, and laughing.  This was done with many loving warnings from Louis not to over-do it and to pace ourselves.  We broke for lunch at about noon after starting at about 7:30 in the morning.  We partook of some much needed nourishment and then got back to the task at hand.  We were actually seeing the driveway starting to shape up. 

 

Connie, Denise and CJ (Louis' sister) worked tirelessly to reclaim the driveway itself.  They raked and pitchforked marsh grass and debris until they had cleared all the way to concrete or gravel.  Bill, Garry, Edward (Louis' brother), and Tait chainsawed endlessly to clear fallen trees and large limbs.  Tim, Kaitlyn, Ryan, and Denise and Louis' son and daughter loaded limbs into the back of the pick-up along with everyone else and provided much-needed muscle at every turn.

 

As it began to get dark, Louis stopped everyone and offered rides into dowtown Biloxi while Denise started dinner.  Some made the trip, others helped prepare dinner, and everyone took a much-deserved shower.  Everyone was wonderfully exhausted and proud of a hard days work.  You see, WE HAD CLEARED A DRIVEWAY!!!  Now mind you, it was not just any driveway.  It was the most beautiful driveway we had ever seen, because we had just finished clearing it with friends and our extended CISV family.  I can't tell you how many times we walked up and down that driveway once we were finished.

 

After dinner, we visited, watched a little, TV, dozed on the sofa, and soon were off to bed.  The kids, however, went into town and saw the new Narnia flick.

 

We woke up on Sunday morning, had pancakes, sausage and bacon, and set to some final clearing of logs, limbs, marsh grass, and other debris.  Hands, arms, backs and shoulders sore, we worked until about 11:00, took pictures, gave great-big hugs, and began making plans for our return visit.

 

We made a little dent, but it was OUR little dent.  We invite anyone who would like to help continue making a dent to get in touch.  The Longinos could use lots more help as well as other Gulf Coast Chapter families.  Any little bit helps.

Click here to download

PowerPoint slideshow of Gulf Coast Relief Weekend I.  It’s a big download, but well worth it.

Gulf Coast Relief Weekend II

 

We had a fantastic experience on our CISV Gulf Coast Relief Weekend II this weekend (2/17-2/19/06).  CISV Atlanta brought 9 workers (Tait Anberg, Cindy Caldwell, Carl Fite, Jon Frederiksen, Caitlin Hewel, Daniel Hollingsworth, Ben Smith, Thomas Wardlow, and Markus Wiegel), CISV Chattanooga brought 5 workers (Shannon Johnson, Sherie & Bill Lefton, Barbara McKerley, and Alison Searle), and CISV Jacksonville 2 workers (Sadie Blanton and Patty Pritchard).  We brought a total of 16 workers to the Gulf to help our fellow CISV Gulf Coast Chapter families.

 

Everyone drove down on Friday, 2/17 and we all started work on Saturday morning.  We were able to help out several CISV Gulf Coast Chapter Members:

 

- Ned Comer in Pass Christian, Mississippi (Atlanta)

- Kathy Doyle in Biloxi, Mississippi (Jacksonville & Atlanta)

- Ms. Shannon in Biloxi, Mississippi (Jacksonville & Atlanta)

- Cheryl Larsen in Kiln, Mississippi (Chattanooga)

- Germaine Weldon in Ocean Springs, Mississippi (Atlanta)

- Don Dwyer in Ocean Springs, Mississippi (Atlanta)

- Denise & Louis Longino in Biloxi, Mississippi (Jacksonville & Atlanta)

 

Much thanks goes to all of our hard workers, and want to also thank Jon Frederiksen (a.k.a. Tarzan), owner/operator Tree Works, Inc. (404.379.1700) and Carl Fite, owner/operator InTown Air, Inc. (404.975.9201, Nextel 155*135315*16).  They continue to support CISV Atlanta, let's please support their businesses whenever we can.

  

CISV Cincinnati was unable to join us because Pam Ford's father-in-law had a heart attack and she needed to be with him.  Also one of the Gulf Coast Chapter members, Ned Comer, who we helped was in Florida because his father had suffered a heart attack.  Please keep both of them and their families in your thoughts and prayers.