New Orleans Clean-up

Adam Kelchner
I was struck off balance by the outpouring of hospitality that our group experienced during our two week stay. We were blessed with food that was provided by our residents on multiple occassions as a way of expressing gratitude for the work that we were doing. The first day on site, our resident returned to his home with a pot of hot gumbo and he said, "I want yall to experience a part of New Orleans we still have." On multiple other days, residents provided lunch for us but the greatest surprise came on one of our last nights staying on the Westbank. One large family took it upon themselves to cater a local restaurant and beyond that provided each member of our 32 person group with two gifts uniquely from New Orleans. There was a tremendous outpouring of generosity everywhere we went in the city when people found out we were providing relief in the city. I don't know whether it should be called southern hospitality but the way humans in any situation should treat each other. Quoted by one of our residents, "It's better to give than to receive."