Current Volunteers:

Rebuilding Mission #1 6/3-6/6
Jay Gershman West Hartford CT
William Grabinsky Granby, CT
Ron Rolfes St Louis , MO

Blog

6/3/08
Bill and I arrived at 10:30 am to find my friend Ron Rolfes waiting in baggage claim. After picking up the Alamo rental, we went straight to our Broadmoor project. After meeting, assistant director, Hal Roark, we were taken to the house on Louisiana Parkway, just minutes away.  Project manager Brad  Reynolds gave us the tour of the house that was gutted to the studs. Our projects were outlined, second floor bathroom and porch conversion to Della’s bedroom.  Ron selected the bathroom. The walls were not attached to the ceiling or floor and the holes on the floor made for careful work. Bill and I inspected the back porch gable end.  The end goal was to replace the two metal frame windows with new replacements.  Unfortunately, Bill and I needed to solve the structural issues first. The bricks above each window were structurally unsound and in need of removal. Bill and I decided to remove the bricks on the gable end and replace with wood, while my job was to remove all brick above the window and re-lay in a bed of mortar. Despite the 92 degree heat with 90% humidity, we were off and running.  We accomplished a lot for our first day.

After work we roamed the Convention Center area, settled on a micro brewery for dinner and ended the night by watching the end of the Stanley Cup final won by Detroit. 

6/4/08
Bill, Ron, and I arrived at 8:30 am to begin work. I figured an hour without extreme heat would be a benefit. After all, the day before we drank about 20 bottles of water between us in the 4 hours we worked.
Ron chose to install the new bathroom windows and started by removing the old one. After a brief struggle, the score was: Ron 1, Window 0. Our Americorp Assistants delivered the new window and Ron masterfully installed it with such precision that would make his St. Louis contingent proud. He wrapped up by overlaying the bathroom floor with new ¾ inch plywood.
While Ron worked upstairs, Bill and I rebuilt the gable end with 2 x 4’s and plywood. I mixed mortar and had my two Americorp assistants hand me bricks and mortar while I spent the afternoon on a 8 foot ladder scorching from the sun.
Weather and all, we got it done.

After work, we rushed off to dinner at Tommy’s Wine Bar and Restaurant to meet Andrea Huseman, our New Orleans member of Visions for Friends.  As usual the food was great!  After dinner, it was off to the Casino for a try at 21.  Believe it or not, the gambling gods must have look favorably on our rebuilding efforts, since I walked away with + $250.

6/5/08
Bill, Ron, and I decided that today was our last day. Since Ron was scheduled to return to St. Louis at 5:00 pm, we decided we would finish the entire assignment by starting at 7:30 am. Today, we had to install the bedroom windows. But first, I had to finish the brick so that the roof support could be released and the weight could be transferred back to the brick I had rebuilt. Within one hour, mission accomplished.
Next up: window demolition. What fun! Unfortunately, our tools hadn’t arrived yet, so we decided to use old fashioned brains and brawn. Those windows didn’t have a chance!  To add a little pressure, I figured out we could frame up the two windows by lunch and get Ron to an earlier flight.  Done!! After returning from lunch, Bill and I installed the 6 windows in time to give Ms. Della the tour. She was speechless. It was one of her first visits inside the house and then she decided to take the backyard tour also. I recorded the whole visit with my camcorder. Talking to her made us realize how much we had done meant to her and to dream to return to her home. Personally, I can’t wait to see her FEMA trailer towed away.  After much cleanup, Bill and I left, proud of our accomplishment.

That night we were invited to a party by Jon Graboys, an assistant for Hal Roark at Broadmoor.  Jon shares a house with a few other young guys from the Boston area who are working in New Orleans.  Their house in Broadmoor was packed with young professionals for a lively barbeque.  Bill and I hung out for quite awhile before deciding to give Bill a try at the casino.  Once again, lady luck shines but on a much smaller scale.  Bill and I played 21 on the same table and managed to each win enough to go home smiling.