Last week, AmeriCorps members, alumni, and partners across the country marked the fifth annual AmeriCorps week by performing service projects, hosting community events, and engaging government officials and community leaders to support community service and spotlight the role AmeriCorps plays in addressing America’s most pressing social needs. RTA was proud to be a part of this event. Our two AmeriCorps members led a team of 24 other members from the AmeriCorps program at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to rebuild the home of a tornado survivor in Rayne.
On a stormy Saturday evening in early March, Michael Carter was at home with his girlfriend and her two children, when a tornado touched down and slammed into their neighborhood. The winds lifted the house clear from its foundation, and as it came apart the four inside were ejected into the yard. Before he knew what had happened, the gust had thrown Michael clear across the street. His girlfriend landed near him and her two kids wound up under a tree in the yard. They were still sitting on the couch. Miraculously, the four of them had survived the event, but the tornado destroyed their home and many others as it carved a three-mile path through the city. In the end, over 100 homes were damaged or destroyed.
When it was time to rebuild, Carter received money from his insurance, but it was far short of the amount needed to buy a new home. Fortunately, an 864 square foot house was given to him by an anonymous donor from Mire, LA, on the condition that he could move it to his lot in Rayne. Carter found a good deal on the move, and with his replacement home in place, Rayne Disaster Relief handed his case to RTA in the beginning of May.
On Monday, May 16th, RTA AmeriCorps National members Douglas Colie and Missy Porazzo, and 24 AmeriCorps State members from UL arrived to begin a week-long, top to bottom renovation of the donated structure. By the end of the week, hardly a surface in the home was left untouched. Members applied cool seal on the roof, installed exterior doors, replaced crumbling pieces of siding, installed wall paneling, framed a bedroom closet, re-floored the interior, and painted the entire house. Over the week, they met many of Carter’s friends and neighbors, who stopped by to show their support with food and water for the volunteers. A relative set up picnic tables one afternoon and treated to entire team to a fish-fry lunch. The group met Carter’s Case Manager from Rayne Disaster Recovery, and spoke with a local reporter one morning as well.
Throughout the project, Carter played an active role himself, purchasing the needed materials and making several runs to the hardware store as supplies were used up. His dedication to his home was apparent when, on Monday morning, the AmeriCorps members arrived and found they could already cross several items off of their to-do list–tasks Carter had tackled single-handedly over the weekend.
As the team left on Friday, Carter expressed his personal thanks to each of the volunteers. With the project complete, Carter is ready to trade the arduous and uncertain task of rebuilding with the joyous task of moving back home.
Our volunteer group on the last day. The UL AmeriCorps members are all in gray, RTA AmeriCorps members Doug and Missy are on the left, and homeowner Michael Carter is in the center with the blue cap.
Check out our Facebook page for more pictures from the week.
