KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News-Students Spend Spring Break Volunteering in New Orleans

Students Spend Spring Break Volunteering in New Orleans

3/24/09

SAN LUIS OBISPO - Spring Break is underway for Cal Poly students. While some students are partying on the beach, others are on a community service trip in New Orleans.

A dozen students left San Luis Obispo Saturday for the Big Easy. Since arriving, they have been touring the sights and volunteering at an elementary school.

"A lot of water damage... The school was flooded. There was about four feet of water in the school from Katrina, so we are helping fix up the inside," said Jody Weseman, trip organizer.

It has been more than three years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, and the city is still working to rebuild.

"There is still a lot of need down there and organizations still there," said Tyler Blauvelt, Cal Poly student.

Blauvelt is working alongside other Cal Poly students in New Orleans.

"We're going to be working with a non-profit down there," said Weseman.

Many of the students have never been to New Orleans. They said they are already enjoying the experience.

"The history is incredible, and the people are beautiful. It's a different culture, definitely, compared to San Luis Obispo," said Weseman.

"And you can actually go back to school feeling like you accomplished something," said Blauvelt.

The Cal Poly students will be in New Orleans until Friday. They will be visiting individual homes in the Ninth Ward, cooking dinner for residents at a homeless shelter, and tutoring elementary school students.