Handing Out Supplies

Today our group stayed at Camp Coastal to move and distribute supplies to people in the area. We started out by cleaning out a large storage tent. It was a lot of grueling work to lift the wet and damaged boxers as well as heavy insulation, but extremely satisfying knowing it was going to people in need. After a few snake sightings and some mouse poop, we were ready to hand out supplies. The twelve of us hung hand-painted signs that read “Free Paint and Supplies.” Soon after, cars began pulling into the parking lot where we had set everything up and we knew all our hard labor was worthwhile. We met so many great people as 2we handed out piles of paper plates, napkins, paints, windows, cleaning supplies and applesauce.

Things that we take for granted every day were so needed and appreciated it made each of us realize how much people here had gone through. One touching story we heard was from a kind woman who had taken in seven orphans on top of her three children after the hurricane. Despite having so little at the moment of Katrina, she still had the heart to give more.

A welcome thunderstorm arrived, cooling down the intense Mississippi heat. We had to retreat under a tent for the lightning to pass, but we were all eager to get out as soon as possible to continue loading cars. It was a lot of hard work, but rewarding and satisfying to meet so many people who had gone through such a horrible disaster.

-- Razina and Jenna