Adopt a Katrina Family

Hi Everyone,

I am back on campus working on a local project in our campus computer lab. The new project supports a GREAT need. It is now over 4 years since Hurricane Katrina caused the loss and devastation many of us could not even comprehend. Close to five years later, thousands of displaced residents are still waiting to go home! The MCMC Adopt a Family project aims to connect these families with people who want to help them finally recover from the tragedy.

Check out:

http://www.AdoptaKatrinaFamily.org

Also Please become a fan of MCMC on facebook. My team's job is to promote the project and get people interested in adopting a family. We are databasing churches, religious organizations, social clubs and other groups with interest in service so that MCMC can send out an informative email about the program. The hope is that people will come together with their social group and adopt a family as a group.

In addition to the database, are trying to put together a promotional video to upload on YouTube, Facebook and Current TV. Also we would like to set up a webpage that would allow people to donate any sum of money directly to one of the families' funds. Unfortunately, none of us have backgrounds in media or technology so the project is going to be a huge stretch. If you know of anyone that can help us pull something together or have any ideas that could help spread the word please let me know!

Well today I am off and that means TAXES! and other various personal work like my application for Denver TL... I miss you all and hope to hear from you soon.

LOVE from Vicksburg!

Casey

Pulled

"Hello World!" as Paul Lumpkin would say...

As usual there is plenty to blog about.

I spent the first weekend of my new project on vacation leave down in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. I have never been interested in celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans in the past, but living in the South has changed my opinion once again. I traveled down on Saturday and stayed through Wednesday. We saw about 6 parades and caught tons of beads! (contrary to popular belief, this requires NO nudity) We mainly attended the more family oriented parades uptown, but caught a couple in the Quarter on Canal. I stayed as far from Bourbon Street as possible (as usual). I learned a lot about the New Orleans culture and of course I at some DELICIOUS food! Great times with friends, though coordinating seven people in the packed city was stressful at times.

I returned to New Orleans this weekend with Jordan whose parents were in town for a convention. It was great- I got a free ride to visit Sally and Delta Dan and enjoyed some more time with Jordan's family. His parents were very generous and brought the whole group of us out to a nice dinner. I ordered some yummy lamb. Sally and I stayed at the Olivier House where we stayed the first weekend we visited during TLT. It was nice to have some time one on one with Sal for a bit. On Sunday morning the two of us went shopping at the French Market and then had lunch up on a classic New Orleans balcony. The restaurant we ate at claimed to have the ORIGINAL New Orleans Muffaletta , but so did the other five restaurants on the street...

In between my vacationing, I have been dealing with yet another stressful project. Hope CDA definitely does not have enough work for my team, and we have been spending our days standing by idly waiting for work to be assigned to us, or doing "busy" work. Luckily today, a solution has been decided on and my team is being pulled from the project. I am happy because it is a huge weight off my shoulders- I just can't take another project where I have to create work for the team. They deserve to feel needed and to do work that will help a community. I do not know yet where we are going or when we will leave so I guess we'll see soon.

As for right now, I am sitting outside in our pavilion which is the only place I can get internet- and though it is no Cleveland, I am starting to get rather chilly.

OH I forgot to write: we got our next project assigned. We got our NUMBER ONE CHOICE- a marine restoration project saving oyster habitats in Savannah, Georgia paired with a city revitalization project in Buffalo, WV! I am EXTREMELY EXCITED!

Love you all. Hope everyone is happy and healthy,

Casey

full circle

Hey Y'all

I am back in Biloxi!

As usual I have plenty to tell you about and no time!

Quick recap of the last week:

-Went to an AWESOME ropes course with the team at a nearby Boy Scout Camp- Great re-energizer for a team losing steam. Thanks to Mr. David Mallery Executive Director of the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service for hooking my team up with that experience. We spent the morning at the low ropes course and had a blast repelling and doing a zip line in the afternoon.

-Ended our project at Southern Foundation for Homeless Children with tearful goodbyes to Mama Gwen, Mr. Eucluck, Mr. King and the staff and boys of the foundation.

-Traveled back down to the coast to check in to our new home. We can see the beach from our new volunteer camp!

-Spent this morning at orientation for Hope CDA (http://www.hopecda.org/ )

- I am now OFF ON VACATION! Heading down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras with some Team Leaders tomorrow morning!!!!!

PEACE!