Local youth group did mission work in New Orleans

By Special to The Democrat | The Natchez Democrat

Published Saturday, January 31, 2009

Natchez — During the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, 17 youth and adults from Jefferson Street United Methodist Youth Fellowship, spent three days in New Orleans on missions. One and a half days were spent at a community center, a part of St. Marks United Methodist Church, removing old filing cabinets and other debris. They also painted several rooms, halls and baseboards. The center is used for many neighborhood children’s and youth activities. Sunday afternoon and Monday were spent at a private home located less than a mile from the Superdome, taping, mudding, sanding and priming sheetrock that had been installed by previous volunteers. Three-and a-half-years after Hurricane Katrina, parts of New Orleans still need rebuilding. Crews from around the country continue to come and work a few days on a job, following previous crews until each individual qualified house is finished for occupancy. The weekend marked the sixth trip made by the youth group to Biloxi and New Orleans for mission work projects since the hurricane occurred.