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Five Years Out From Another Major Disaster: Good Neighbors Still at Work in New Orleans

March 21, 2011 By
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Editor’s Note: Last month I spent several days in New Orleans and got to see some of the on-going rebuilding efforts more than five years after Hurricane Katrina. Each day this week I’m featuring stories of  people and organizations that are working together to help restore homes and lives. After the massive destruction in Japan last week, these stories point to the need for long-term commitments to help damaged regions rebuild, and give hope to the people there.

Volunteers from St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Pacifica, CA. strip paint for a home being reconstructed in the Lower Ninth Ward

NEW ORLEANS – As the crisis in Japan unfolds and it becomes apparent that recovery will require long-term, international help, one San Francisco Bay Area church knows what it’s like to adopt a people far away and commit to helping rebuild after a disaster.

In 2005, Pacfica, CA., resident and St. Andrew Presbyterian Church member Lisa Angelot was so moved by television images of the destruction in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, she was there within 10 weeks to volunteer. She gutted out flood-damaged homes with a group from Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church.

She came back to her church family at St. Andrew filled with stories about the massive needs on the Gulf Coast after suffering through Katrina and Hurricane Rita. The 200-member Pacifica congregation was inspired to send a group to the region as volunteers with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

The church group made its first trip in the winter of 2007 to Houma, LA. A field trip to New Orleans that week got them thinking about returning in 2008 to help there. The church has sponsored a group every year to New Orleans since, working in conjunction with a Presbyterian organization called Project Homecoming.

I happened to be in New Orleans at the start of the church’s fourth work trip, and got to tag along as more than 20 Bay Area volunteers worked at a few different locations in the city.

During a break at a house in the Lower Ninth Ward where part of the group had been hard at work with saws, drills and paint scrapers, we heard birds singing in the trees, which prompted Angelot to remember that on her first trip to New Orleans, there were no birds.

“All you heard were helicopters,” she said. There was destruction everywhere, no residents, just volunteers gutting houses and National Guardsmen patrolling the neighborhoods.

Five and a half years later, she said it’s heartening to see how far the city has come, but sobering to realize how far the city still needs to go. Officials estimate that nearly 50,000 housing units out of 200,000 are blighted. It’s not unusual to see entire neighborhoods still wiped out, or blocks with only one house reoccupied.

The fact that there is so much left to do – some estimates say it will take another five to 10 years to repair the hurricane and flood damage – keeps the Pacfica church group coming back year after year.

Along the way the church members have fallen in love with the city and its people.

“Our people have just been captivated by individual stories…and the story of the city,” said Pastor Penny Newall. “It’s been more than just going down and working for a week. It’s been a connection and a passion that is much deeper for many of the people who have gone.”

Tomorrow: How members of the St. Andrew work team have brought others along with them to help in New Orleans.


St. Andrew member Berni Schuhmann holds up a mini-King Cake she bought at lunchtime, during a break from working on a house in New Orlean's Lower Ninth Ward. Schuhmann's daughter Gillian Parkhurst looks on.


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Helping the Japanese People in the Wake of Deadly Earthquake, Tsunami

March 17, 2011 By
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I feel as if I’ve been holding my breath for the last few days since the largest earthquake in Japan’s history hit that country a few days ago. Mostly because the disaster continues to unfold, from quake, to tsunami, to possible nuclear plant meltdowns, with an end somewhere off in the distance.

As we continue to watch and wait to see what happens with our Japanese brothers and sisters, we can help with even the smallest of donations. Here are some sources I trust:

In today’s world of texting, it’s popular – and easy – to suggest texting to an organization like the Red Cross. But I was surprised to learn that the money doesn’t necessarily get to the organization right away. According to a great blog post on the PC World site, it can sometimes take as long as 30 to 60 days for the funds to reach their destinations. If you want to make sure your donation gets to the organization right away, online donating may be your best bet.

The PC World post has some good advice about how not to get scammed when donating to help after a major disaster. It also suggests checking out charitywatch.org; that site has an excellent overview of charities that they trust for helping after disasters.

Here is a video from the Red Cross taken in Japan.

Filed Under: Donations, Fundraising, Volunteering, World

Volunteers Take Part in Census to Help Government Track Homelessness

February 11, 2011 By
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SAN MATEO, CA. – In the dark, damp, and cold of the predawn on a recent Thursday, more than 240 volunteers left their own warm beds indoors to fan out throughout San Mateo County searching for those who had spent the entire night outdoors with no beds.

Rodney Roberson (left) and Chris Wahl check out a creek bed looking for homeless encampments.

It was a scenario that has been played out nationwide, as local governments and homeless groups tackle the 2011 national homeless census. The process undertaken once every two years in the last couple of weeks in January and early February helps the entities figure out what services are needed, as well as provide a benchmark for how programs helping the homeless are doing.

At 6 a.m. on Jan. 27 at San Mateo City Hall, one of 12 “deployment centers” that day, volunteers received their final instructions before heading out into the darkness. They were told safety first: don’t attempt to speak to people found out on the streets. Don’t worry about the exact count, there are formulas to figure out the results. And “zero” is a valid report.

Small groups of three and four people headed out in cars to their assigned census tracts. Each group had a “homeless guide”, someone who is currently homeless and staying in a shelter or transitional housing.

The director of San Mateo County’s Center for Homelessness, Wendy Goldberg said that by pairing volunteers with homeless people on the census, it helps put a face on homelessness.

“I think it’s a golden opportunity for people to learn about homelessness in the county,” she said.

[MORE STORY AND PHOTOS]

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Continuing King’s Legacy All Year: Take the MLK 25 Challenge

January 18, 2011 By
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After last week’s sadness over the violence in Tucson, it was good to watch thousands upon thousands of people pour their hearts into service yesterday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I am one who believes the good news far outweighs the bad, if we pay attention. Yesterday was a day to pay attention to the people who are committed to their communities, and want to leave a positive stamp on those communities.

In honor of the 25th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the people behind the National Day of Service have come up with a terrific way to extend the day into a whole year. The Corporation for National and Community Service is challenging all of us to commit to 25 acts of service in 2011. It’s called the MLK 25 Challenge. From simple acts like donating to  your local food bank, to more involved things like becoming a mentor, anything that helps make your community a better place can be part of the challenge.

If you’re scratching your head for ideas, the organization’s website has a handy checklist to get you started. See this blog’s posts from last month, when I listed 30 ideas for being a good neighbor at the holidays and beyond.

The group is encouraging anyone who takes the challenge to post their actions throughout the year on Twitter, using the #MLK25 hashtag.

Although the focus is on the Day of Service here in the U.S., Martin Luther King Jr. transcends this country. Anyone, anywhere on the planet could participate in this challenge. It would be amazing to see a Twitter feed with thousands of posts from all over the world, marking acts of kindness done in memory of MLK.

To help me remember the challenge, I’ve posted a sticky note on the side of my computer screen that says “#MLK25”. I’m starting with a small goal of remembering to take reusable bags to the market. Another small act I realized I did yesterday: I momentarily helped a neighbor try to locate a missing pet. Little things, I know, but sometimes when we start with the little things, it leads to bigger actions down the road. I like to think that even a small act, like a small raindrop in a pond of water, sends out ripples far beyond what we may even realize.

Yesterday I posted my favorite King quote:

“Returning violence for violence multiples violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Think of each act of kindness – no matter how small – as a light against the darkness. When thousands of us shine our lights of love together, the darkness cannot triumph.

What about you? Will you take the MLK 25 Challenge? What ideas do you have to help others this year?

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Generosity Good, Good For You, According to Research

December 24, 2010 By
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On this Christmas Eve when we’re all in a more generous mood, here’s a link to an excellent article in the San Francisco Chronicle about research that shows being generous and volunteering reaps big rewards for the person displaying generosity.

Click for full article here.

Giving and helping others makes us happier than spending money on ourselves, research shows. Although there is a side of doing volunteer work or giving from a purely self-interested point of view: we get more respect in the community, our influence grows, and people will be willing to cooperate with us more. It’s an interesting read.

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Christmas Party Spans Divide Between Rich, Poor, If Only For An Evening

December 17, 2010 By
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SAN JOSE, CA. – On one recent evening in a downtown office, the great divide between Silicon Valley’s rich and poor melted away amidst some baked ham, gingerbread cookies and a few Christmas carols.

About 50 guests from a local homeless shelter and a low-income housing complex and their volunteer hosts enjoyed a little Christmas spirit around festive tables before shuttling back to a life of uncertainty.

There was no agenda that night, other than to give guests a chance to relax, enjoy a holiday meal, and share conversations away from the stress of a life on the streets.

The event was the third annual “Luke 14” Christmas Party at The River Church Community in downtown San Jose. Overseeing the festivities was Andy Singleterry and his wife Janet, church members who have both committed themselves to working with the poor. Volunteers from The River and at least two other local churches joined them.

As Singleterry explained to the hosts in a huddle before guests arrived, the title “Luke 14” comes from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 14, in which Jesus advises people to “invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind,” instead of their rich friends and neighbors.

Among the volunteers that night were high tech employees, leaders in business, educators, and in some cases their children, for whom homelessness is usually more of an abstract idea than a reality. For this one evening the volunteers and the homeless and low income men and women interacted as if there was no divide between them, sharing stories about families, lives, and memories of Christmas’ past.

[MORE STORY AND PHOTOS]

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Silicon Valley Animal Shelter Sends Out Urgent Call for Help Finding Homes for Dogs

December 11, 2010 By
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Jojo

Jojo needs a home.

If you’re a dog lover prone to adopting pets in need, proceed with caution. A “drastic” increase in recent weeks of the number of homeless dogs in local animal shelters has Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) officials asking the public to consider fostering or adopting dogs.

San Jose Animal Care and Services has 59 dogs up for adoption, more than twice as many as there is space. In addition, another 200 dogs are waiting for spaces to open up in the adoption area. Humane Society officials brought 15 dogs from San Jose to their center in Milpitas to help with the overflow. The HSSV center has a whopping 11 puppies and 55 dogs available for adoption. Other local shelters are also overflowing.

Acknowledging that “times are tough” the Humane Society is offering a special “Your Price is Right” deal, where adopters name their own adoption fee. Training deposits and licensing fees still apply. The deal is good through December 31.

The organization is also looking for experienced “dog guardians” who will foster dogs for short periods of time.

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30 Ways to Be a Good Neighbor This Holiday Season – Part 2

December 8, 2010 By
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Yesterday I listed 10 ways to be a good neighbor in your own neighborhood. Today I’m sharing ways to spread holiday cheer into the rest of the surrounding community. In Part 3, I look at ways to be a good neighbor to the world.

  1. With a major recession and chronic joblessness, food banks and social service organizations are hard-pressed to provide for all the needs out there. If you have any resources available, now is the time to share. Money, food, clothing, coats, blankets are all needed. It’s very easy to find places that need your help as early in the season as possible. Do an Internet search for food banks in your community, or check the local newspapers and their websites for links to charities. Don’t have money? How about some time? The same agencies who need donations need volunteers to distribute to needy families.
  2. Shop local. More and more of us are shopping online, but there are small businesses in your town who need their neighbors to stay afloat and keep jobs and sales taxes in your community. Try to do at least some of your holiday shopping at a locally-owned business. And if you’re going out to eat at any point, visit a local establishment, not a chain restaurant.
  3. Thank the people who keep you safe year round. Drop by the local fire station or police station and say “thank you”. Bring a basket of goodies if you’re able. When I say “goodies”, I mean things that are good for you. I used to take cookies to an office each December to thank the workers for their help, until one of them took me aside and said that as much as they appreciated my gesture, everyone there was trying to eat healthier. I wasn’t the only one bringing cookies or candy and the temptation to overeat was great. The next year I brought a basket filled with tangerines, nuts, specialty coffee and tea, and even a little dark chocolate. They loved it!
  4. Attend a community holiday event. Pick something happening in your town, a tree or candle lighting, a community breakfast or services and events at houses of worship. Challenge yourself to introduce yourself to at least one other person and find out a little bit about who that person is. It’s good to get to know a wide variety of people in the community. You may even make a new friend.
  5. Find out if a local school has a wish list. These days there’s no doubt teachers have a long list of needs. Call one of the schools near you and ask.  You can also find worthy projects at edutopia.org, a site created by The George Lucas Education Foundation, or at iloveschools.org.
  6. Recycle your Christmas tree. Most communities have a way to do this, either with curbside pickup or a place to drop-off. Check for requirements; some cities ask you to cut the tree into smaller segments, depending on the tree height. The trees get mulched and help nourish local soil.
  7. Call the nursing home near you and ask if they need volunteers to visit residents. Chances are you would be a welcome sight to many folks.
  8. Take part in a regional campaign to raise awareness about drinking and driving. The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s are a very deadly time of year with holiday parties happening. Go to www.madd.org to find out if your local Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) chapter is leading an effort, or ask your local law enforcement agencies. (See my recent post where I mentioned MADD as a success story in raising awareness)
  9. Tip your baristas! Do you have a regular spot you go to for coffee or meals? Give the people who serve you year-round a special tip and say “thank you” for doing such a good job of taking care of you.
  10. Resolve to be a better community neighbor in the New Year. Find out when your city council or school board meets and plan on attending at least once. Look into emergency preparedness and discover how you can get involved. Plan on being a positive part of your community!

Have you helped your community during the holidays? Tell us! If you try anything on this list, please let us know how it went. What other ways are there to help the community at this time of year?

Filed Under: Community, Good Neighbor, Holidays, Volunteering Tagged With: , ,

30 Ways to Be a Good Neighbor This Holiday Season – Part 1

December 7, 2010 By
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‘Tis the season to be jolly, as the song says, and why not spread some of that holiday cheer by being a good neighbor?

I’ve put together a list of 30 ways to be a good neighbor during the holidays, broken into three parts. Today is 10 ways to be a good neighbor in our own neighborhoods. Next I’ll share 10 ways to be a good neighbor in our communities. I’ll close out the list with 10 ways to be a good neighbor to the world.

In Your Own Neighborhood

  1. Host a holiday get together. This does not have to be fancy, complicated or expensive. A simple hand written note left at each neighbor’s door inviting people over for a cup of holiday cheer and some cookies is all that’s necessary. Choose a two-hour window on a weekend or weeknight to have folks drop by. You can get a little more involved by planning a potluck, so everyone shares the load of providing something. In a multi-cultural neighborhood like mine, it would be interesting to have each family bring something from their own culture enjoyed during a holiday or festival.
  2. Bake cookies and bring a small plate to each home. Again, this does not have to be over complicated. No one’s waistline needs a large gift basket of cookies, just a few of your family’s favorites on a small plate or in a small bag is fine. If you have the time, include recipes.
  3. By Fagles [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia CommonsOffer to help a neighbor with installing/removing decorations. Maybe an older or disabled neighbor would like a few strings of lights adorning his or her home. Or, you could suggest to a neighbor that you help each other.
  4. Organize a neighborhood food drive. One year I knew that a local social service agency was short many items to distribute to families who couldn’t afford Christmas gifts and dinners. I made up a simple flyer with a list of needed items, and an offer to come pick up the items and deliver them to the agency. I dropped off flyers at each home on my street and a couple of surrounding streets. I met some neighbors I had never spoken with before, and I took a carload of food and other items that brought cheer to those who were less fortunate.
  5. Be a “Secret Santa”. Leave a bag with treats on a neighbor’s doorstep with a note saying that it’s from their Secret Santa. You can do the same thing to all your surrounding neighbors, or you could do what I saw one year, which is encourage one neighbor to in turn become the Secret Santa for a different neighbor. The idea is to keep the gift giving going, another way of paying it forward.
  6. Write a note to each neighbor saying why you appreciate them. Don’t know your neighbors well? Just send a card with a nice note saying you hope you’ll get the chance to get to know them in the coming year.
  7. Decide as a family to perform chores for neighbors as a gift from your family to theirs. Choose age-appropriate chores for your kids, and contact neighbors about setting up a time to come over to rake leaves, shovel snow, weed, etc. Spread the cheer even more by wearing Santa hats, or holiday colors, while working. Live in a housing complex? Maybe your family could help spruce up common areas, or run simple errands for neighbors.
  8. Is a neighbor out of work or struggling financially? There are ways to help that won’t embarrass your neighbor or put him or her on the spot. Dr. Deborah Bauers suggests in a post on helium.com ways to give . One suggestion is to give a financial gift anonymously.  Or cook some extra food at dinnertime, and then bring it over saying you can’t eat it and don’t want it to go to waste.
  9. Offer to watch a neighbor’s house while they go out of town.
  10. Resolve to be a better neighbor in the New Year. Plan on meeting more neighbors you don’t know. Think about offering to create a neighborhood contact list, with people’s phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Plan a summertime block party. Keep brainstorming ideas of how to help your neighbors.

What are your ideas for how to be a good neighbor during the holidays? What have you tried and what was the result? If you try something from this list, make sure to let us know. Share in the comments below!

Filed Under: Good Neighbor, Good News, Holidays, Volunteering Tagged With: , , ,

Mandatory Volunteering Proves Beneficial – Under Right Circumstances

August 2, 2010 By
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When I first heard about mandatory volunteering in high schools about a decade ago I thought it was a real-life oxymoron. To me volunteering was only real when it was done out of a true desire to help, not out of a fear of missing requirements. I also cast a wary eye on teen volunteering that was done purely for puffing up college applications. I was doubtful that these types of volunteering had long-term positive effects on students. But recent studies have shown that under the right circumstances, mandatory volunteering actually improves the chances of future community involvement.

In Saturday’s “Shortcuts” column in the business section of the New York Times, columnist Alina Tugend did an interesting piece about the studies called, “The Benefits of Volunteerisim, If the Service is Real.” The studies found that when the volunteer jobs were meaningful – in other words, volunteers could see how their work was benefiting others – the volunteers were more likely to volunteer in the future. Even more so if the work was combined with a chance to talk about it with other students in class and talk about the greater societal issues involved. Those discussions can help students see that problems aren’t just solved through individual efforts, but also through public policy. That can lead to students who are more likely to vote and take part of the civic process in the future.

There is a danger to giving students just any volunteer job. One unpublished study found that engaging students in “busy work” can actually be detrimental to future volunteer involvement. So for example, if students were told they were going to be helping people, only to perform menial tasks that seem unrelated to actually helping others, that could lead to frustration and being turned off to volunteering in the future.

These results are good news for communities. It’s a win-win-win situation. Volunteering by students can help individuals who are on the receiving end, it can help the students to grow and change in positive ways, and it can help communities that will benefit from future involvement by the students as adults.

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