A group of 29 Union College students spent the past week rebuilding homes, schools and churches in some of the most devastated areas of New Orleans.
As they spent their days nailing together new building frames, memories were hammered into their minds.
Union College student Marty O'Brion said, “You see everything on the news, you knew what was going on, but once you get down there, it was just more personal.”
The students said they worked each day from dusk until dawn, but that their work barely scratched the surface of the rebuilding process.
Union College student Kathryn Desorrento said, “Words can't explain what the conditions are. We met people who were living in their homes without electricity and running water just because they want to be at home.”
Now that the students are home, they said having had the chance to rebuild part of the Big Easy was an early holiday gift.
“We feel like they gave us something rather than us going down to help them,” said Desorrento.
The students also said much more needs to be done.
Union College student Laura Pittenger said, “We did as much as we could in the amount of time that we had, but it's just that people are needed down there.”
The students said if given the chance, they would gladly return to New Orleans and to the people who need their help.