It’s been over a decade since Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana, but its effects are still apparent in much of the city, which is why in February 2019, a group of teens returned to New Orleans to continue the rebuilding efforts and offer words of strength and comfort to those who were still grieving for all they had lost.
Volunteering for several hours a day with Habitat for Humanity, the NCSY teens helped construct houses and worked with Green Light to install free, energy-efficient light bulbs. To get a firsthand look at the hurricane’s lasting impact, they visited the Ninth Ward, a neighborhood that was completely destroyed by floodwaters resulting from the failure of the federal levees during Katrina.
In between their volunteer efforts, the teens visited the local synagogues and cemetery, and met members of the Jewish community to connect and offer emotional support. It was a true show of Jewish solidarity, one the teens won’t soon forget.
New Jersey NCSY’s Fred and Rose Distenfeld z”l Relief Missions