Fayette County students kick-off the summer break with community service in New Orleans

Thirty-seven members of the Association of Village Pride, Inc., a community-based youth leadership development organization, planned and executed a community service project addressing the clean up efforts resulting from the devastation of hurricane Katrina. This group of Fayette County students began their summer traveling to New Orleans on a mission to provide hands-on service to this ravished community.

Working with the Beacon of Hope Resource Center, Fayette County’s middle and high school students pulled weeds, mowed lawns and cut and bagged tree limbs to help homeowners clean up and reclaim the pride their community once had before Katrina. Students also had the opportunity to visit the Upper and Lower 9th Ward where they saw many areas that were decimated by the hurricane. Additionally, students attended a discussion session with area residents who shared their personal experiences from hurricane Katrina first hand. Nearly three years have passed since those fateful days in August 2005 when the hurricane hit New Orleans, but there is still much to do to fully restore and revive these once vibrant and thriving communities.

While this was a tremendously moving and unforgettable experience for the participants, it was especially relevant because a Fayetteville resident, Rhonda Haney, a native of New Orleans, accompanied the group and provided a wealth of information, guidance and a personal perspective to the event.

The Association of Village Pride, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization and has been serving Fayette County youths for ten years. The organization is supported totally by grants, donations and community support. To find out more about the organization, visit www.avpride.org.

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