- - Lake Charles - - Hit by TWO hurricanes in less than 40 days, Lake Charles was in need of rebuilding assistance.  Cat 4 Hurricane Laura hit 8/27/20 and Cat 2 Hurricane Delta hit 10/4/20.  After that, they were hit by Winter Storm Uri on 2/13/21 that brought freezing temperatures to the region for multiple days, breaking many water lines and then they had a major flood on 5/15/21.
 
Several thousand people are still displaced after 18 months.  The Federal Government passed legislation 10/26/2021 to assist in rebuilding their infrastructure however funds are still months away and little is expected to reach the actual homeowners.
 
We partnered with Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders as they set up volunteer housing and victim case management from the neighboring community of Sulphur, LA. 



On 2/26 thirteen volunteers went to work on the home of Miss Peggy who is a displaced caregiver currently living with her daughter.  We insulated and replaced the ceilings in several rooms, sheet rocked and taped the walls and ceilings, assembled a dozen new kitchen cabinets, removed, replaced and primed all the exterior soffits, installed new flooring in one room and built a handicap ramp out her front door.  Hoping our next team that arrived 3/6 can get the house closer to finished.
Arriving on 3/6 our next team was comprised of 10 football players from Morningside University in Sioux City, IA,  Coach Jacobsen and three Hand of Hope mentors.  This is the third time they have given up their Spring Break to join Hand of Hope and serve those in need.  Some volunteers continued working at Miss Peggy’s home.  Others split off for a “Demo Day” then rebuild at the home of Mr. Mike Bruce.  Wednesday evening they enjoyed a well deserved Crawfish Louisiana dinner. 
 The Team arriving on 3/6 sent some volunteers to a second property.  Part of Mr. Mike Bruce's home had been crushed when part of a 100+ year old tree fell onto his home due to the Hurricanes.  For 18 months Mr. Bruce has been making due by living in the undamaged section of his home.  The team needed to dismantle the damaged sections and rebuild the house.  Amazing progress was made in just the 5 days that they were there!  Thanks Mustangs!