By Gabe Sneller

This August 24-28th, Rebuilding Together New Orleans invites you to commemorate the fifth year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a renewal of a promise and a rebirth of a community. Rebuilding Together’s Fifty for Five will be one of the largest rebuilding efforts undertaken since the storm and the largest event in Rebuilding Together’s history. With volunteers from across the country and from all walks of life, the event will pay tribute to all of the heroic men and women who have come to New Orleans since the storm to rebuild. Rebuilding Together’s Fifty for Five event involves 50 houses, five days, over 1,000 volunteers and a chance to make an unforgettable difference in the lives of 50 New Orleanian homeowners and their families. It is the privilege of RTNO to build fences, plant trees, tile floors, paint siding, construct wheel chair ramps and, most importantly, bring back the sons and daughters of New Orleans to their homes in the historic neighborhood of Gentilly.

With water reaching in excess of twelve feet you do not have to look far to see the second story waterlines that streak across homes in Gentilly’s scenic neighborhoods. Even though the rebuilding effort in New Orleans has progressed greatly, in Gentilly there is still an air of uncertainty when our usually recognizable RTNO’s truck hardly raises an eyebrow. RTNO is going to bring awareness to an amazing part of town that needs help and give hope back to the people of Gentilly. Prevailing through the storm, contractor fraud, years in FEMA trailers and displacement to long distant cities, the people and spirit of Gentilly are coming back stronger than ever. Our homeowners warmly reminisce about their quiet streets, friendly neighbors, front porch conversations and the lovely retreat from downtown life that makes Gentilly special. It is our hope that through the Fifty for Five event, their fond memories will come back with the people that made them.

We are given this chance to show how much we can accomplish together and what it means to serve those in need. Fifty for Five is a commemorative event showing how far New Orleans has come since the storm, an accolade to both homeowner and volunteer, and a festival of life, because, after all, we are in New Orleans and we are going to have a good time. So grab your shovel, put on your old painting jeans, and come out to Gentilly this August and help turn these 50 houses back into homes!