River of Hope III

“A River of Hope” Relief Project: Our Organization is Joined by Community Volunteers and United States Senator Mark Dayton as We Return to New Orleans for a Third Time to Help with Hurricane Katrina Clean Up”

March 2006

Orion Associates, Meridian Services Zenith Services employees returned to New Orleans over the weekend of March 24th through 28th to assist with the clean up and rebuilding efforts in the Ninth Ward and St. Bernard’s Parish. This time, we were joined by volunteer contractors, plumbers, roofers and electricians, as well as by United States Senator Mark Dayton.

This was the organization’s third trip to the region. Before we left, we raised enough money and donated supplies to fill a semi-truck with sheet rock, tools, and other building supplies and materials and met the truck on Saturday in New Orleans.

This trip was different than our previous two because of the presence of the building professionals who volunteered there expertise to help rebuild people’s homes. These volunteers replaced the roof on one home. They re-wired two other homes and restored the electricity to one. They also installed new bathroom fixtures and prepared the home for sheet rocking. Reconstruction on the New Salem Baptist church is almost complete. Electricity was restored and, in a beautifully symbolic moment during the weekend, the steeple was illuminated for the first time since the hurricane.

This trip was also different because we were joined by United States Senator Mark Dayton. Rebecca Thomley, our Chief Executive Officer, had met with Senator Dayton on a recent trip to Washington, D.C. Senator Dayton was impressed with our organization’s “grass roots” efforts to help others and offered to join us on this trip. Senator Dayton worked alongside our employees and volunteers. We are very grateful for his interest, support and “hands on” efforts.

While we were there, our employees and other volunteers gutted several homes so that additional clean up and repair work could begin. We added supplies to the community resource center that we started the first time we were there, which makes supplies available to the neighborhood and other volunteers. We also gave supplies to the people of St. Bernard’s parish, where there are residents who have returned, but are without essential building supplies and cleaning equipment.

Reflecting upon our experiences in New Orleans, we see that there is not enough media coverage communicating how poor the conditions are there and how little is being done to help the poorest people and the elderly. While we have accomplished much during our three trips, much more needs to be done.

We remain very grateful for the opportunity we have had to help and plan to continue to work with Minnesota contractors, plumbers, electrician and roofers to support the people of New Orleans. We want to thank you for supporting and contributing to this cause, realizing that many of you have already given so much. It was with your help that we able to accomplish such a major undertaking.

We are planning to send another group of employees and volunteers to New Orleans for a fourth time in June. We continue to seek cash donations are needed to purchase supplies and materials for this effort. They can be made payable to the Zenith Services, Incorporated Disaster Relief Fund, and all donors will receive a charitable tax deduction receipt in the mail.

This event has passed, but Headwaters Relief continues it work to provide disaster relief.
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River of Hope III - Photo Gallery

“River of Hope” Project Participants

Jeffrey Chase, Alicia Corbett, Chad Danielson, Senator Mark Dayton, Alec Demgen, Steve Dorf, Alyssa Dotson, Jeff Greishar, Laurel Greishar, Marya Hage, Paula Hanninen, Greg Hinrichs, Kathleen Holz, Aaron Featherston, Sid Featherstone, Trent Johnson, Pastor Warren Jones, Jennifer Jackson, Heidi Kraus, Laura Kurtz, Steve Kurtz, Steven Lee, Wayne Meyer, Joe Molnor, Rosalee Molnar, Sam Nero, Shirley Nero, Sarah Olsen, Brenda Reishus, John Richardson, Sue Richardson, Jenny Schraut, Alexander Thomley, Luke Thomley, Nicholas Thomley, Rebecca Thomley, Toni Thulen, Jen Van Rooy, Cheryl Vennerstrom

“River of Hope” Project Sponsors

The following agencies and businesses have generously contributed to our “River of Hope” project, and many have done so several times. In addition, hundreds of individuals have given to our efforts as well. We would like to express our gratitude and deep appreciation to everyone whose donations have made our work in New Orleans possible. Thank you!