During the Christmas holidays, my wife and I joined about 40 volunteers from all over the country to assist residents whose homes had been destroyed or damaged by Katrina.

We were housed in the Dedeaux Retreat Center (leased by Catholic Charities) in Pass Christian, Mississippi, one of the hardest hit towns…. Most structures were wiped away in the area of the first half-mile from the shoreline. For the next half-mile the debris from the first half-mile piled up against the houses and totally destroyed that section. For the next two miles the storm surge, at places 35 feet high, completely engulfed the houses, causing their entire contents to be destroyed.

One of our assignments was to pull out the sheetrock, insulation and appliances that were destroyed and carry the refuse to the street so it could be hauled away by the town. In Bay St. Louis, of the 55 businesses that had operated in the downtown area, only three are open after four months. Schools, town government buildings and most churches have all been destroyed.

To volunteer with Catholic Charities (you don’t have to be a Catholic) call 1-897-2280. For more information, call John and Skye Maher in Portsmouth at 436-8035. It was the most rewarding 10 days we have ever spent.