ARNO and St. Bernard Community Center March 27th

Today our group volunteered at a local animal shelter under Project ARNO. We walked dogs, played with cats, and cleaned cages. Jackie, a man from Iowa who has sacrificed his entire life to helping post-Katrina animal victims, informed us of the tragic and miraculous happenings during and following the hurricane. One of the major operations this non-euthanizing organization undertakes is catching and caring for ferrell dogs and catching, neutering, and releasing ferrell cats. It is quite amazing the amount of work and hours the shelter's dedicated and passionate staff put in. Look on our website for a link to Project ARNO.
In the afternoon our group headed over to St. Bernard Community Center to prepare and serve jambalaya, fish, and sweet potatoes. We had an amazing and awe-inspiring conversation and tour of St. Bernard Parish with the community center's cook John Booth. John, famous for his grilled oysters, is quite a character, life-loving, and a genuine American. He is currently living in a FEMA trailer park, one of many throughout New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish. Some of the most sullen moments of our conversations was when he told us that he lost 7 friends to post-Katrina stress suicides. As he lead us on a tour throughout the parish and into the neighborhoods of Lexington Place, we witnessed incredible devastation caused by overflowing levees. This included 3 houses that literally floated 200 feet across a canal. John also pointed to the giant oil tanks of Murphy Oil Company. He informed us that the company failed to weigh the tanks down with salt water prior to the storm. One was severely damaged during the hurricane and 84,000 barrels, 3.7 million gallons, of crude oil spilled out and into the surrounding neighborhoods.
We had a great time preparing and serving food at St. Bernard's Community Center and enjoyed speaking to those who attended. Look to our website for a link to St. Bernard's Community Center.
At night we saw the famous and highly-recommended jazz band Rebirth.

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