Demolding Experience

Today was the first time that I, ANthony Wilson ever did the demolding part. which for people who do not know, it is the last part of the gutting process. First a team has to go into the house and take out all of the moldy furniture, then the knocking down of the plaster and celings comes, along with taking out the nails, until only the studs are left. Then we have to go through the house with a wire brush and scrape all of the mold off of the studs, then we vaccuum all of the dirt from the studs and scrub the studs witha cleaning solution. After this, the houses are done and the families are able to begin the rebuilding phase of putting their lives back together. It felt really good to finish this process. Over Spring Break all I witnessed was the beginning, of taking out someones home, but this process gave me the hope that things can be rebuilt, and that one day NEw Orleans will be full of life and happy people again, unstead of the despair that is currently upon the city. We worked with a great bunch of students who were from Albright College, in Reading, Pennsylvania. They were led by one girl who is going to be a junior, she organized their whole trip including fundraising. Its amazing the spirit that these individuals have, because all they want to do it help, and learn while they are doing it. It was amazing to hear how supportive there school was in helping them all get to hear, and making a commitment to continually send people to NEw Orleans to learn about the history and to help rebuild. I only wish we could get a commitment from Hamline, but I am not going to stress over it because I know that if I want to help down here I can make it happen, and hopefully help many people along the way. I I was here two months ago and everything looks exactly the same, and I still find myself asking myself the same questions. "How could the trusted officials allow this to look this way one month into hurricane season." This heat is very trying on our bodies, I think we all have agreed. We are taking more breaks than last time, but it is alright because we are supporting each other, because I know we are all working ver y hard and pushing ourselves, we are just making sure that we dont hurt outselves. Well I am going to go and eat some good old Southern chicken, I just have to figure out where.
Peace
TOny WIlson