United Way Intern and Fellow Stonehill Students Spend Spring Break with Project Homecoming in New Orleans

Our United Way Marketing Intern, Jess Zaniewski (fourth from right) with fellow Stonehill College students and Project Homecoming staff in front of Ms. May's house

          Every year since hurricane Katrina hit, InterVarsity Christian fellowship has been sending college students to New Orleans, Louisiana to help rebuild homes. The InterVarsity chapter at Stonehill College, otherwise known as The Good News Club, sent 29 students to New Orleans last week to work with Project Homecoming. Project Homecoming is a community development organization that helps build homes for families in New Orleans who are low-income, uninsured, underinsured, disabled and elderly. Since 2007, Project homecoming has helped to rebuild over 200 homes. They are also proudly partnered with The United Way of Southeast Louisiana.  

Jess working on Ms. Mary's house

            Among the 29 Stonehill students that worked with Project Homecoming was our own United Way Marketing Intern, Jess Zaniewski. Stonehill students were split into five groups and sent to different work sites. Jess spent the week working with Project Homecoming staff and five other Stonehill students on a house that needed a lot of finishing touches. It was a beautiful, green home, owned by a woman named Ms. Mary. Ms. Mary’s house had suffered a lot of damage from wind and termites, leaving large parts of the walls, ceiling and floors missing. The house has been under construction for almost a year now and it is beginning to near completion. “I was a little surprised at first” says Jess “I was expecting to work on a house that was in the beginning stages of construction but, in the end I was happy. Ms. Mary was a victim of contractor fraud and she has also been waiting over 7 years to move back into her home. For that reason, I am so happy that I could play a role in bringing her house back to life.”  Jess spent the week painting walls, cleaning windows, cleaning out closets, and hanging new shelves.

            While in New Orleans, Stonehill students were given a tour of the Upper and Lower 9^th ward. They were able to see the areas that were heavily damaged by the storm, as well as the levees where the flooding occurred. Students were also given time to visit the French Quarter, shop and dine in local restaurants. In the evening, students listened to speakers and engaged in faith based discussions and Bible studies. The combination of these activities in addition to service work allowed students to fully experience the culture of New Orleans and learn about how Katrina affected people’s lives. It also helped them to grow in their faith and form long lasting relationships with one another.

Jess and fellow Stonehilll students at the French Quarter

            Jess had a great time while working in New Orleans. Her favorite part of the trip was working on Ms. Mary’s house and trying new food. Jess says “It was an incredibly eye opening experience that changed my life. Working with project homecoming was so rewarding but, I am also thankful for the free time that allowed me to talk to NOLA locals, experience the culture and enjoy some good southern meals.” Jess left New Orleans with a new outlook on the world and a burning desire to continue serving those in need. “I know my life will never be the same. New Orleans will always have a special place in my heart.” Jess hopes to return to New Orleans one day and she is currently thinking about pursuing a year of service work after graduation.

To learn more about project homecoming, visit their website: http://projecthomecoming.net