Day 3

We met with the New Orleans Public School District today.  It was a good meeting, and they will be sending ideas for additional items that their schools really need.  The School District building's roof came off during Katrina and Rita, and after having set up temporarily inside a school, they are now renting another space behind their other building.

A number of teachers descended upon Luke's house where the many boxes of supplies are temporarily stored.  Much was taken to be used this week in their schools.  There was a lot of excitement about the help they were receiving!

Additionally, we had several interesting conversations with business owners about their experiences during and after Katrina.

Day 2

We arrived safely in New Orleans on a beautiful, sunny, 88-degree day. We promptly unpacked the 50+ boxes, which caused the van to let out a sigh of relief! Molly's brother was greatful for all the supplies and really couldn't believe how much stuff we had brought. He planned on reaching out through a network of teachers to distribute the supplies as quickly as possible and to get them where they are most needed.

After that bit of business was taken care of, having worked up a great hunger, we went to lunch at a wonderful Soul Food restaurant called "The Prailine Connection." Fried pickles, fried chicken, jambalaya, red beans & rice, mustard greens, and macaroni and cheese... wonderful! Then Molly and I walked around the French Quarter and checked into the Hotel Villa Convento, reputed to be the famed "House of the Rising Sun." We meet tomorrow with the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce and the New Orleans Public School District, and are also planning on meeting tomorrow or Wednesday with Teach NOLA.

Day 1

Molly and I set out for New Orleans today with a vanload of stuff, and made it as far as Winona, Mississippi. We left tons of textbooks back at the Chamber to be shipped down later. The response for the New Orleans schools was awesome. We've so far gotten over 25 boxes of supplies and well over 1,000 textbooks. We're bringing all the supplies and samples of all of the textbooks and some sets, but the van is lowriding and terrifying to drive already. It's a full-size conversion van and it's sort of like driving a really heavy sail.

We should be in New Orleans by lunchtime tomorrow!