Catholic Construction Corps National Disaster Recovery Team travels to Jackson

Catholic Construction Corps National Disaster Recovery Team travels to Jackson, TN

Coordinating this trip was Vernon Witte from Yorkville, Il. Vern is actively involved with the Catholic Construction Corps from the Diocese of Joliet. Volunteers ranged in ages 19 to 74 years. Included in this mission was Sean Conley , Winfield, IL., Martin & Marguerite Corn, Braceville, IL., David Evanseck, Schererville IN. , Jerry Knoll, Lombard, IL. Alvin Kocher, Bristol, IL. , George Mack, Darien, IL., Urban Oen, West Chicago, IL., Jim & Anita Schemensky, Channahon, IL., and Robert Wilson, Elmhurst, IL. Two young men, Alvin Bontrager from Rexford, MT and Tim Miller from Ovid, MI. also worked with us during the week.

Volunteers worked with Mennonite Disaster Service. MDS is a network of volunteers working together to help those in need. MDS provided coordination, housing and food for the volunteers. We were welcomed at the center by the Project Leaders, Fred & Sue Kathler from Abbotsford, B.C. Canada. Fred coordinated jobs and provided materials for the work that had to be done. His wife, Sue primarily kept things running smoothly, answering phones and tending to the paper work. Ben & Martha Hershey from Immoklee, FL.
volunteered to prepare meals for the workers. To these people we are truly grateful.

MDS volunteers are known for responding, rebuilding and restoring homes and lives for those suffering from disaster. Although temperature were in the 90's the two crews began working at two sites. The task ahead was to replace roofs. To their surprise, one group discovered that a section of one home had at least 13 layers of shingles to be removed and the other crew found an entire roof with 9 layers. Needless to say, that by the time these came off there were some very serious structural issues to address before new roofs could be put on.

Luckily, several men were quite knowledgeable and skilled in roofing. Under their guidance and direction, the other willing workers assisted in a variety of ways. In spite of the intense heat, the two roofs were completed during the week. Those workers not on the rooftops were kept busy loading debris into wheelbarrows and hauling it to the street for the city workers to pick up.

In spite of all the hard work, the volunteers always found time to interact with the families involved in the tragedy. Living conditions for most of these families were not good. Besides a house filled with people, there was also a trailer parked in one yard, which housed another family or so. Each had a story to tell.

Marty Corn found time to befriend a dog that was in need of attention. He gave him water, petted him and possibly even shared part of his lunch. Could there have been a St. Francis among us?

While the men were involved with roofing and other construction work, such as dry walling a home that had been gutted, the two ladies, Marguerite & Anita spent three entire days washing walls, scraping paint, painting, tearing out old carpets and cleaning kitchen appliances for a gentleman who truly needed direction. The first day it seemed that he (James) was unsure of us, however by the second day he had taken the initiative to do some of the work prior to our arriving at his home. He soon was working along side of us and by the end of the day; he was calling us "his angels". How Rewarding is that? He was most pleased when Marguerite saw an old butter churn in his house and said, "Wow that would look great in my kitchen"! He very readily gave it to her and reminded her not to forget to take it with her.

Our final job was to help clean glass display cases and pictures inside the Nashville, Chattanooga, & St. Louis Depot and Railroad Museum. Although this was working inside an air-conditioned building, we did sympathize with the men as they weathered the extreme heat.

Everything that was done, no matter how great or how small was appreciated. Workers coming into the museum stopped to thank us and to say how important all the volunteers are.

The time we spent together each evening sharing events of the day helped us to bond as a group. There was a real sense of community among us. This mission is one not soon to be forgotten.

by Anita Schmensky and Marguarite Corn