NEW ORLEANS, LA. i made it safely to new orleans at 1am monday morning. i spent monday night at H.O.P.E. and had a warm welcome from the crew there. some folks are off traveling for a bit, and our good friend mike is in mississippi meeting with other coordinators concerning the long-term future of grassroots relief work in the gulf coast region.

i’ve been working endlessly at st. mary’s for the past two days. my to do list is growing and i’m helping coordinate some skilled workers to accomplish tasks around the building. i could pretty much work around the clock here for the rest of my stay till late april, and i know most of my time will be here, but i also am drawn to work out in st. benard’s parish with H.O.P.E. and be with the amazing people there. it’s tough being split between two places. kind of like here and chicago… i know it will be tough packing up in april to leave. there will be lots of kids coming up north, though, for bike!bike! in may. there’s endless work and endless travel.

keep posted here–i’ll keep writing.

CHICAGO, IL. just to let some people know–as many people have been writing assuming i am back in new orleans–i am still in chicago and am preparing to leave this sunday. the truck is almost overflowing and i’ll have many passengers to bring down. other volunteers i met in nola last month have ended up in the midwest as well and need rides back down. we’ll need help with gas money, so if you feel like donating a couple bucks online, please do!

i’ve been getting messages from people all over the midwest who have things to donate. i won’t have room for some of the larger things offered (stove, diswasher, formica counter tops), but it’s been encouraging to receive the support and know there are strangers out there who want to help.

keep in touch. i’ve got a mobile phone now (thanks, keenan. and to laura for the minutes!) so you can reach me anywhere i may be. 773 504 4902. keep posted. i’ll be writing here more often once i’m in new orleans.

CHICAGO, IL. i would like to humbly thank all the amazing people who have donated specifically for my return trip to new orleans. i’ve received gardening supplies, household goods, electronics, books, software, and monetary donations. i’m even searching for room for a donated dishwasher and stove (anyone with a trailer available, let me know!). the response has been amazing.

thank you to all who have kept me in their thoughts and continue to support this effort. i will be heading down around march 14th and will continue volunteer in new orleans until mid to late april. please contact me if you have questions or donations.

CHICAGO, IL. the drive home went well, fourteen hours of change: temperature became colder, sky became darker, land became more green and populated. for two weeks in new orleans i had thought about what it would be like to come home to a place where the streets are relatively clean, houses erect, landfills out of sight. i don’t see dump trucks every other block, or white fema trailers, or pink respirator filters. the change was significant, and i feel like i can breathe a little easier. the air is cleaner, the emotional stimulation less severe.

i will be here in chicago for two weeks gathering more supplies and preparing for a longer stay in new orleans. elise is still in new orleans working and will probably be there another week. thanks to all who have kept in touch. let us know if you want to know more about our experiences, or feel like coming down.

love, nicholas.