While most flock to enjoy parties and sunny beaches during spring break, 14 Grinnell College students and 11 alumni travelled to New Orleans March 22-27 to help rebuild areas devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 on the premier Grinnell alumni service trip, the GrinNOLA Voluntour.

"This was one of the most meaningful things we have ever done, and regret that we didn't do it earlier or more often," says Howard Needle '56, one of the Grinnell alumni who made the trek from their homes in places such as Baltimore, San Francisco, Chicago, Jacksonville, Maui, Minneapolis, and San Diego to volunteer with the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana Office of Disaster Response in the Big Easy.

For the alumni-turned-builders, the three days spent volunteering throughout the city (see map below) was just as meaningful as the opportunity to spend time with other Grinnell alumni and students. "I loved the opportunities for being and reminiscing with other Grinnellians, hearing about current Grinnellians, working on the house … meeting the owner … being in the neighborhood … [and for] learning more about Katrina and the state of New Orleans today" says Alice Rogoff '71.

The alumni were joined by current Grinnell students who are part of the Renew Orleans organization, a student group founded in 2005. As co-editors Rebecca McLaughlin '08 and Margie Scribner '10 outlined in their introduction to their booklet ReNew Orleans: Grinnellians in the Gulf Coast, "The first trip to New Orleans was in January 2006, through the chaplain's office, followed by an Alternative Break trip that March. Several Grinnell students spent their summer working for the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana's Office of Disaster Response, for a program founded and then managed by Katie Mears '03. Since then, hundreds of Grinnell students, faculty, staff, and alumni have dedicated their time to gutting and rebuilding flooded homes." Amanda Davis '04, Ross Koon '06, Liz Carrier '07, Jan Koszewski '08, Lindsay Dennis '08, and Spencer Green '08 are a few of the Grinnellians who have taken up permanent residency in New Orleans to fulfill long-term volunteer or staff positions with the Episcopal Diocese Offi ce of Disaster Response.

Click on the red tacks to see photos from the location, blue tacks do not have photos.

Map from Greater New Orleans Community Data Center.
Retrieved from www.gnocdc.org on 4/15/2009.

Local Grinnellians in New Orleans also shared in the week's activities. Locals, visiting alumni, and current students gathered for dinner at the historic restaurant, Dooky Chase's. Mark Mayer '78 generously hosted a reception for the visiting Grinnellians at his downtown office.

In between the service work, the alumni enjoyed the opportunity to relax and explore New Orleans. Highlights included a guided tour of the city and the Katrina devastation, a walking tour of the historic Garden District, coffee and beignets at the renowned Café du Monde, and several samplings of exquisite New Orleans cuisine.

For the alumni participants on the GrinNOLA Voluntour, this was the perfect mix of work of fun. As Needle comments, "This was a prescription for a great vacation: hard and productive work and a great time with exceptionally nice people!"

For more information on the GrinNOLA Voluntour, or to learn about future alumni service opportunities, please contact Jayn Bailey '05, assistant director of alumni relations.