Storm long over, but rebuilding work remains Brookdale students seek aid for volunteer mission to New Orleans BY LORIANNE OLIWA Correspondent MIDDLETOWN - While many college students across the nation will be enjoying the traditional rites of spring break, a group of students at Brookdale will instead be traveling to New Orleans on a humanitarian mission. The Brookdale College chapter of New Jersey Waterwatch, a statewide organization supporting environmental causes, is sponsoring the trip. Katie Feeney, the group's campus organizer, said that continuing to build awareness of the devastation involved with Katrina is the mission of the trip. "New Orleans is still in a house-mucking phase, even after all this time," said Feeney, a Sea Bright resident. "We must not forget about what these people have gone through and are continuing to go through. If we can get even one family to rebuild, then we have succeeded." Though the organization traditionally supports issues involving water quality, testing and cleanup as its core mission, Feeney is an outspoken proponent of the need for civil and environmental activism. "I see this trip as a giant migration of volunteers united in helping fellow Americans," she said. "Our group is a small part of a nationwide neighbor-to-neighbor movement. This is what rebuilds lives." Feeney said that the organization has a total of 10 chapters in New Jersey and that most are sending delegations to New Orleans. "Hurricane relief is an environmental issue, but it is also activism at its best, part of a grassroots effort to build awareness. And if we can build awareness, then we have done good," she added. A group of 15 Brookdale students have committed to this eight-day trip and will leave on Saturday. All have engaged in their own fundraising efforts, which have fallen slightly short, according to Feeney. "We need to raise $4,000 and are not quite there yet," she said, adding that many students have even contributed money of their own. "We sold mardi gras beads and even ran around singing songs for $1 each," she joked. The group will actually be driving to New Orleans via Knoxville, Tenn., where they will stop and spend the night in a church, which has offered them floor space for their sleeping bags. After spending the night, the group will continue their journey to New Orleans, where they will stay in another church located in the Lower 9th Ward, an area that was hit particularly hard by the storm. The setting and accommodations will be very simple, according to Feeney. Once they arrive at their destination, the Brookdale students will join other community-based organizations and begin the hard work. "From 7 p.m. to 3 p.m. every day, we will be tearing down walls and working with black mold. We will work in full protective gear for a period of four days, and then on the fifth day, we will actually visit other areas that were damaged," Feeney said. Feeney and the chapter are asking the community for support. Because the group is driving down, it is in need of gas and grocery store gift cards, as well as gift cards for Perkins and the Olive Garden, she said. Feeney also mentioned that the volunteers will need protective gear like goggles and rubber gloves. Cash and checks are also welcome. Donations to the chapter are tax-deductible, according to Feeney. Individuals wishing to make donations via the Internet can visit the chapter's Web site at www.waterwatchfund.com and click on PayPal. An address is provided for those wishing to send checks or to deliver donations in person. For further information, call Feeney at (732) 224-1875 or e-mail Feeney at bcc@njwaterwatch.org.