“There’s a difference between watching this on the news and being here to see what really happened because of Katrina,” she said. “It’s really sad, actually.”
But McKenzie wasn’t sad to sacrifice her spring break to help instead of going on family vacations like some of her other classmates. In fact, she said she’s happy she decided to come and has been looking forward to coming down to help out ever since she learned about the trip.
And that makes Lori Doriot feel really good.
“All of these kids are giving up their vacations. This is their vacation. This is their spring break,” she said.
“It’s awesome. It is amazing how they are treating and respecting one another. It makes me proud as a parent that I send my children to (Muskegon Catholic Central High School). It makes me proud of these young men and women and the way they are handling themselves.”
Heartfelt gratitude
While Lori Doriot’s heart was full of pride, Burnam’s heart was filled with gratitude.
It has been a long road to recovery for the Pass Christian native, whose family home was destroyed by Katrina.
“I had moved back here right before Katrina to live in my late mother’s house on Hiern Avenue. We spent about three years remodeling it. We moved in at the beginning of August and Katrina hit at the end of August.”
The Burnam’s did not have flood insurance and stayed in a FEMA trailer on Hiern Avenue for about three years before buying their current home on East Second Street two years ago.
For five years, Burnam volunteered with Square Foot Ministry, serving as volunteer coordinator and helping to build 19 houses in Pass Christian, all the while neglecting her own needs.
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“My needs have been in plastic boxes and storage units,” she said. Most everything went under water. There’s stuff I haven’t even gone through.”
Now that she is retired from volunteer work, Burnam is more focused on her own needs and said it would be difficult to even begin to try and meet those needs without the help of organizations like Project Hope and Compassion.
“If it wasn’t for the faith-based groups that are coming in and the churches, there wouldn’t be enough help for these people who still need it,” said Burnam, who has benefitted from a steady flow of volunteers.
“It’s very heartwarming. I just can’t believe they give up their spring break to come down here and help. They just all work so really hard and they love doing it.”
And they will keep on doing it as long as there is a need.
“It’s as simple as that,” said Tober.