‘Right now, I don’t want to live anymore – I don’t want to be in this world,” said New Orleans resident Kamal Namazi, 49, in a Feb. 14 Associated Press article. Who could blame him for making such a remark after having to pick up the pieces left of his life just 18 months after surviving Hurricane Katrina?
This past Tuesday a tornado wreaked havoc on New Orleans, a city still trying to climb out of the rubble left by Hurricane Katrina. Those like Mr. Namazi, who were left with little in late August 2005, now have even less or nothing at all.
During times of turmoil when our neighbors need help, it does not suffice to simply feel bad about their situations. New Orleans, once dubbed “The Big Easy,” is in big trouble, and we must step in. It is our duty as human beings to help out those in need. After all, who would we be without the relationships we form with others? Right now, we have the option to do one of two things: help rebuild the lives of those victimized or simply continue down our own individual paths.
On March 20 members of the Rutgers University Cook/Douglass chapter of New Jersey Community Water Watch, a nonprofit environmental AmeriCorps program dedicated to improving local water quality throughout the state, will be helping to reconstruct homes in Kenner, La., a town located approximately 30 minutes outside of New Orleans.
Participants will be sleeping on the floor of a nonprofit church organization and preparing their own meals, in addition to gutting and rebuilding the homes of those less fortunate. This weeklong event comes with a hefty cost. Students involved must raise an individual $150, in addition to a minimum of $3,000 as a group.
Choose to help those affected by natural disaster by making a donation to the group – any level of support will help to rebuild lives. If interested in donating, please make checks out to NJPIRG Law and Policy Center and in the memo portion of the check write “Rutgers Cook/Douglass.” The organization asks that all donations be sent to N.J. PIRG Law and Policy Center, c/o Kristin Elia, 119 Somerset St., New Brunswick 08901.
Feel free to contact the organization directly via telephone, (732) 932-3281, or e-mail, [email protected] for more information.
Give those plagued by natural disaster a voice and refuse to forget those who are continuing to suffer, by helping Water Watch volunteers in their efforts to do so. We live in a world that is made up of individuals. If we do not promise to help one another out in times of need, how can we manage to survive together?
Agatha Rubins
media intern and visibility coordinator
New Jersey Community Water Watch
New Brunswick