From Sally Szuster, Media and Public Relations, UJA Federation:
Yesterday, our group of Impact Toronto, UJA Federation’s young adult division with Hillel of Greater Toronto spent a dramatic first day exploring New Orleans. We are here on a mission to help with the rebuilding effort and to meet with members of the community.
On our descent into New Orleans, looking out of the plane there was a striking scene of a highways almost suspended over enormous swamp land -bare trees growing out of what looked like green and brown sludgy water. None of us on the flight were sure whether this was natural occuring or as a result of Katrina.
One of the first things that we did when we arrived was to take a bus tour of New Orleans to understand the impact that Hurricane Katrina had on this once vibrant and thriving city. But as we drove further towards lower ground, to the areas near the river, where the levies broke, the starkness and devestation of this city was in plain view. In the lower 9th district, a once bustling community of homes and families have been replaced by bare fields of rubble, and shattered homes that sit amoung ruins, like an open wound. It was heartbreaking.