Ariel photo of blue tarps on damaged homes

AmeriCorps volunteers lay a blue tarp on a roof

Slidell, LA – Blue is the color of hope for residents of Slidell, Louisiana. From the sky, the ground is littered with debris and mud – nature’s remnants left behind from Katrina’s flood waters. But not all of Slidell is colorless, thanks to a team of volunteers from Operation Blessing and AmeriCorps.

Blue tarp roofs are being plastered on nearly 300 homes, part of a combined effort between Operation Blessing, AmeriCorps, the Christian Contractors’ Association and the city of Slidell. After crews remove fallen trees and other major debris, tarps are secured onto roofs to help prevent further damage.

Residents are finding the quick response of these teams a welcomed alternative to waiting for weeks with no help or paying inflated prices of local contractors. One school teacher was charged over $11,000 for tree removal – almost four times the regular cost. When the chief of police obtained her work order, he forwarded it to Operation Blessing who cleared the debris, free of charge.

“We’re able to handle those jobs and respond to the needs quickly,” said Sam Constantine, construction coordinator for Operation Blessing. “I can’t describe in words how rewarding it’s been to be able to do this for them.”

As work orders continue to pour in and AmeriCorps sends more teams of volunteers, Operation Blessing and its partners are committed to staying on site until the job is done. “We’ve got a six month lease,” said Constantine. “We’re not going anywhere.”

And for that, the community is grateful. When residents spot volunteers they are quick to offer hugs and food discounts at local restaurants. “We’re in a favorable position with the city,” said Constantine. “They’re always telling us how much they appreciate what we’re doing.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

 

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