March 4, 2011 - Trip Reflections by Jay Werner

This was my 5th trip to the Gulf Coast. Previous trips have been about trying to make a family whole again by making their home livable. This year however we shifted our focus from Mississippi to New Orleans, and in doing so we have found much more work to do. Not just rebuilding homes, but also trying to ease the pain of the “new” normal of a populace largely displaced and primarily forgotten.

This trip I got to work with ARC an organization that provides hope, vocational training, and gainful employment for adults who are developmentally disabled.(This is a segment of our population most of us usually forget about). ARC of New Orleans has a 5 year old bead recycling program in association with the Sierra Club and United Way. I was lucky enough to work with Theodore, Terrance, and Michael, three men my age and older. We sorted and bundled 2 pallets full of beads (800-1000 lbs.). Last year they gathered, sorted, bundled and sold over 90,000 pounds of beads, this year they expect to exceed 100,000 pounds. The proceeds from the sale go back into their programs such as a green house, farm stand, vintage garden soup kitchen, landscaping program, and other job training programs for men and women like my son Lucas. I plan on going back every year for as long as it takes to make the lives of those forced to endure such hardships as those we encountered in New Orleans whole once more.