‘More Needs to Be Done Than We Can Do’: Reflections From a Katrina Volunteer

The Rev. Richard E. Barton, pastor at Marcellus United Methodist Church, in Marcellus, N.Y., spent two

weeks working in hurricane-ravaged parts of Mississippi through a volunteer effort organized by the United Methodists. He plans to return with another group of volunteers from his church next spring. Following are his impressions from the experience:

The first trip — in April 2006 — was to Pascagoula, on the eastern edge of the state. In February our group worked in Pearlington, on the western border of Mississippi, an unincorporated settlement of 1,600 people that was completely destroyed.

During our trips, we learned from local residents that the volunteers were the ones who were giving people hope, and the help they needed, in the midst of what was a mismanaged government response to the need. We also learned that listening to the people we were trying to help was as important for their recovery psychologically as the construction work we did.

There was a palpable sadness in the storytelling we heard. Much of this has to do with the losses these people experienced.

Some of their distress is about a community that will never be anything like it was again. In Pearlington, the local school was destroyed, and for some time children will be bused to the next community.

The Roman Catholic Church was destroyed and the land has been given to the community as a park. The United Methodist Church is gone and no decision has been made about rebuilding. The Baptists who are feeding the volunteers have no idea about when or if they will rebuild, or whether they should merge with another small congregation in town.

The people know that most of the neighbors who have not returned will not ever return. Most of the homes that were in Pearlington will not be rebuilt. And unless the volunteers keep working, even the people who do want to be there may not make it.

One of the people I met was Clyde “Pappy” Hailes, or simply “Hoss,” as he was known by the locals. A World War II veteran, Mr. Hailes, 87, flew more than 100 combat missions during the war as a fighter pilot. Our crew helped construct the little, two-bedroom house that he hoped to call home.

Mr. Hailes could not believe a group of Methodists from New York would help an old Southern Baptist like him. From time to time he wanted to have a talk with me, the preacher, about what things mean, and about prayer.

“Webster’s does not record the words to properly describe my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the assistance and sincerity in helping we disaster victims,” Mr. Hailes wrote in a thank-you letter in late February. “I love each and every one of you Yankees, and on my journey to eternity, I’ll stop by and request St. Peter to give each of them special consideration when they get to the Pearly Gates.”

Tragically, Mr. Hailes died in April, just as construction on his home was nearing completion.

He is not the only person who will never live in a home in Pearlington again.

Our regional coordinators say that increasing numbers of persons who are trying to rebuild in the aftermath of Katrina are running out of money.

Funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and insurance given to individuals to rebuild is running out. This is making the work of volunteers more complex. Volunteer teams often buy materials out of pocket just to finish the projects they are working on when homeowners and recovery sites fall short, but donations are needed.

This summer the 14 United Methodist recovery sites in Mississippi and Louisiana have been at full capacity with volunteers.

In 2006, some 50,000 United Methodists spent a week or more on Katrina relief in Mississippi and Louisiana. We are seeing the number of volunteers increase in 2007 as volunteer teams return to areas in Mississippi and Louisiana, where they have built relationships with people from earlier recovery efforts. Volunteers are also increasing because they know where they are going and where they will stay at the recovery centers.

Our plan for a 10-year recovery effort, with increased volunteer support, continues, in spite of the fact that there is markedly less press coverage about the continuing need for help in rebuilding from Katrina. No one knows how long the volunteers will still be willing to work on hurricane recovery. What seems clear to all of us is that more needs to be done than we can do as volunteers.