One of the most inspiring aspects of Plenty's Gulf Recovery work has been the spirit of volunteerism that has emerged.
People from all over the country have contributed their skills and labor from the very first days of the disaster and Plenty has been able to function a conduit for that energy.
The work of volunteers comes in many different forms, often stemming from the inspiration of the volunteers themselves.
Skilled (building, electrical, plumbing) volunteers and volunteers willing to learn skills are still very much needed.
California high school volunteers organized by Frank Fanto (back row 4th from right). They were sheetrocking the home of Sandy Pelas, single mother of five. Sandy is now back in her home.
While working as a nurse at Williamson Medical Center near Nashville, Plenty volunteer Elaine Langely, with the generous support of doctors and nurses and other staff, collected and distributed a 16 foot moving van full of new clothes, food and toys in New Orleans and Biloxi, MS. Elaine returned over 20 times, each time bringing supplies and providing support for families in need.
Elaine and her husband have moved to New Orleans where she is again working at a nurse. She is now able to be directly involved in facilitating Plenty's work in the gulf, including outreach to hard hit areas alo0ng the coast that have been overlooked by other relief efforts.
Elaine Langley (left) and Jim Selin
Books to Kids
Elaine (left) and Jim Selin, an environmental activist who lives in Nashville, have transported countless loads of books, toys, clothes and food and drives to the Gulf.
Jim distributes everything to schools and community centers and other locations.
Jim has established Plenty's Books to Kids project which is now receiving books for publishers and other sources for Gulf region schools and libraries. Plenty volunteer, Jim Selin, has delivered more than 16,000 books to the Gulf Coast.
On behalf of the students of Drew Elementary, I would like to thank Plenty for all of the wonderful books...Many of our students lost all their books in the flood after Katrina.
You can imagine how excited they were to see Mr. Selin and all the books he delivered to our school. Our school library was empty until Jim brought the books from Plenty.
Students were permitted to come to the library and select books to take home to start their book collections again. They were delighted.”
Susan G. Hughes, Librarian, Charles R. Drew Elementary School, Lower 9th Ward, New Orleans.
Susan G. Hughes, Librarian, Charles R. Drew Elementary School, Lower 9th Ward, New Orleans.
Eleanor Jones, Phil Schweitzer and Tony Sferlazza
show off their Plenty shirts.
A Walk in the Park
Immediately after Katrina demolished the Mississippi Gulf Coast and her neighborhood in Pass Christian, Eleanor Jones set up a “distribution center” in a big army tent.
She called it “A Walk In The Park” and it became one of the primary sources of food and water for survivors along the coast, many of whom traveled for a hundred miles and “stood in line in the hot sun for a bag of groceries,” as Eleanor told us.
Plenty brought many loads of food to A Walk In The Park which was still open long after most other relief centers had closed.
Now, Eleanor has started work on the building of a permanent, hurricane resistant structure that can serve as both a shelter for 400 people and a distribution center after the next storm.
With your support, Plenty will be able to help Eleanor realize her dream.
Katrina Volunteers
Plenty International
PO Box 394
Summertown, TN 38483
(931) 964-4323 Plenty@plenty.org
CFC #11625
