The Hurricane Katrina Blog is no longer available on the MDRT Web site, however, following is an update from MDRT member Robelynn Abadie regarding the progress since the devastation. We thank all who showed their generous support and shared words of encouragement following Hurricane Katrina.
In the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, MDRT members showed an outpouring of support. There was so much struggle and confusion and it just seemed as if time stood still - not for hours or days, but for months. We personally received more than 2 tons of donated goods from our friends throughout the country. We were able to distribute those donations to smaller organizations which were overlooked. With a generous donation from the MDRT Foundation, many agencies were able to keep their focus on helping others. Having this assistance made living a little more manageable for the hundreds of thousands of people affected by the hurricane. One example was the Alzheimer's organization. The MDRT Foundation has just funded this group a grant for their Safe Return Program - a necklace or bracelet for each patient with a national registry to call. This program brought so much peace of mind to displaced families and is just one example of how the MDRT Foundation grant programs have helped our area. The task of so many putting their lives back together has been given a ray of hope by services provided by these funds.
It is still the greatest time of need I have ever witnessed. Trauma and calamity has shaken the lives of so many. As a resident of Baton Rouge, I have seen complete and utter loss, as well as the slow rebuilding of lives. We are almost eight months past the storms and in some areas, absolutely nothing has been done. The new fear is that hurricane season is drawing close and the levees are not secure and our coastal cities are still reeling from the impact.
Shortly after the storms, I was approached by one of our MDRT Foundation grant recipients, Kids Around the World (KATW), about the availability of small, free playgrounds. I approached several agencies and unfortunately these were declined. Somewhat undaunted, I continued to pursue my vision of providing a playground to benefit the children residing in the FEMA trailer park nearest to Baton Rouge in Baker, La. My Rotary group embraced the project and we sought out other project partners and the Baker mayor donated a land site. My hope was that these children, who have suffered so much, would have a wonderful play space and could just "be kids" again. The project has exceeded my expectations and we raised over $110,000. We are building this beautiful playground, with the KATW partnership, the week of April 23-28 with a dedication on the 29th. The playground has free bus access from the FEMA trailer village and is neighbored by the town's library and a lighted walking track.
I'm so excited about this project as it is a very positive sign that better days lie ahead.....that we all should just carve out one small project and collectively make an impact. I think in the midst of crisis, we find out who we really are.
Please share your experiences, not only of assisting Hurricane Katrina victims, but also of helping others in your own community.
