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Sarah Williams

Neighborhood: Gentilly
Architecture Style: Bungalow

Ms. Sarah Williams and her husband, both New Orleans Natives, have known each other since they were small children. They had four beautiful daughters together and were married over 40 years before Mr. Williams passed away. They bought their home in the Gentilly neighborhood in 1974 and raised their family in this peaceful, quiet community. Ms. Williams fondly remembers the life and fun her children added to the neighborhood.

The daughter of share croppers, Ms. Williams is extremely proud of the fact that all four of her daughters went to college. After her husband passed, she worked two to three jobs to keep her girls enrolled at Dillard University, University of New Orleans, and Southern University of New Orleans at the same time.

As Hurricane Katrina approached New Orleans in August 2005, Ms. Williams fled with two of her daughters and her 92 year old father. They spent a year and a half in Dallas, TX and then another year and a half in Webster, LA before returning to New Orleans to live with her father in his house. While trying to figure out how to rebuild her home which was destroyed with eight feet of water, Ms. Williams was contacted by a man who had previously done some work for her and her husband. He said he could completely rebuild her home for $60,000, and having worked with him before, Ms. Williams trusted him and gave him the cash without a contract or any receipts. Shortly after, the contractor disappeared with her money and left her house in shambles. Ms. Williams, now broken hearted, had no funds left to rebuild her home. In April 2010, Ms. Williams learned about Rebuilding Together New Orleans (RTNO) from a flyer in her neighborhood. RTNO is excited to complete the Williams’ house and Ms. Williams is grateful and anxious for her family to return home.

Ms. Williams’ home will be one of RTNO’s “Fifty for Five” project sites. “Fifty for Five” is a commemorative event that will highlight the rebuilding efforts in New Orleans and recognize the fifth Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. This is a volunteer event and will be held August 25-28, 2010 throughout the Gentilly neighborhood. Please contact RTNO if you are interested in donating or volunteering.

Your donation can help complete Ms. Williams home

$14 can purchase the vanity light for Ms. Williams’ bathroom
$51 can tile 17 square feet of Ms. Williams’ kitchen
$125 can install the front door of the Williams’ home

Project Photos:

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