In 1993, I moved from New Jersey to New Orleans, met a girl, fell in love, and started a family. Life was awesome. We put down roots, loved the people, food, and culture that surrounded us, and were perfectly content for things to remain exactly as they were.
But life being what it is, change was inevitable, and in the Summer of 2000, we had to move back to New Jersey. Nobody was happy about it, but we did what had to be done. We kept our house in New Orleans for five additional years, fully expecting to move back to the area we loved at the first opportunity. None were presented to us, so we sold our home and put all of our most cherished belongings – photos, videos, school projects…priceless moments in time – into a climate controlled storage unit. We knew we’d be back someday. My wife’s entire family was down there. Even if it was taking longer than we thought, we knew we’d return.
Then September, 2005 arrived, and everything changed.
Everything was lost. The city was destroyed, belongings were washed out to sea, and most importantly, people were gone from this world forever.
Katrina changed me more than any event in my life so far.
The days following the storm were maddening. Was everyone alright? Cell phone service was non- existent and getting in touch with family and friends was impossible. Imagine being in a WAR zone – no food, no shelter, no water, no gas. In the back of my mind, I couldn’t help thinking about the fate of my belongings. Not the things that fill up a house or things that you can replace, but the priceless stuff – family photos and videos (first steps, first teeth, family and school events) – the things that make a home.
We were in New Jersey feeling completely helpless. We finally got in touch with family and thank G-d they were all OKAY! 21 of them plus 4 dogs caravanned to us in New Jersey and for the next 10 days we all stayed together in our New Jersey home consoling each other. I was amazed at the outpour of good will that the entire U.S. was giving to the region. Definitely mistakes were made but I was amazed at how EVERYONE came together and offered water, food, shelter, clothing, houses, cars).
All 6 families plus mine lost everything in Katrina (houses, belonging, neighborhoods (never to be rebuilt)). It was not until 3 weeks later that I got confirmation that my storage unit was knocked down and all of my belongings got washed out into Lake Pontchartrain.
Out of the ashes rise stronger people with greater resolve. I decided that after experiencing Katrina first hand that ANY way I could help Natural Disaster Victims I would. Years have passed since Katrina and the world has seen more Natural Disaster (typhoon’s, tornados, earthquakes, fires, volcano eruptions and hurricanes) and my heart goes out to the victims. I have chosen to make a difference however big or small. With your help, we can provide life essentials for Natural Disaster victims. Buy NDR cards and help my community of Gallerist and Artists support Natural Disaster Relief. When you have lost everything, you do not know what a bottle of water can do, or a clean shirt, or bedding, or life essential medications. We cannot stop Mother Nature, but we can make a promise to HELP those in need whenever we can.
