A lot has changed in the year and a half since the last time I was here. But I can't tell how much of that has to do with the new housing for volunteers and how much has to do with the city. Certainly the two titanic events since last time were the Saints winning the Super Bowl and the BP oil spill. The Saints victory may have marked the end of the Katrina era since it showcased a city largely back on its feet not needing the kind of urgent assistance required after the levee failure. The effect of the oil spill is hard to quantify. The gulf is still a long way down the river and the most of the shrimpers are as well so restaurants and tourism are more the concern here in town.
Volunteering here is a totally different experience this time around. Not only was the old Camp Hope demolished to make room for a new school that would meet safety codes, the new Camp Hope was taken over by BP as part of their Make It Right campaign to both clean up after the spill and employ those affected. The new housing is in a large (and largely empty) storefront church. They have a kitchen but are not set up to serve meals so I have yet to eat with another soul. Very different from Camp Hope where you were always meeting other volunteers. The Community Center of St Bernard, where I do most of my volunteering has also moved. They seem to be as active as ever but make do in smaller digs next door to their old location.
It may be that the need has passed and that New Orleans is at a point where they will have to work out the remaining details on their own. The only thing sad about it is saying goodbye to a wonderful time when people from all over America came together to do what the government could not and raise a city back up in its hour of need. It was a great moment and it inspired lots of people both young and old. A time none of us will ever forget.