| During our first
evening at the Common Ground Center in New Orleans, we met some of the
volunteer staff from the free Algiers medical clinic. After
finishing their long day at the clinic serving the Algiers residents,
they had come to the CGR center and were providing massage and
healing touch for the CGR volunteers who had spent their day gutting
houses.
We had been providing music for the
CGR volunteers prior to dinner, and the Algiers staff commented on how
much we had added to the body work they were providing. It was
decided that we would journey to Algiers the next day to provide music
for the Algiers residents and clinic staff. However due to the
unbelievably small area this clinic was working in, we would have to
sit outside.
We were quite shocked when we
arrived at that this clinic to find that it was located in such a
small rundown building. Staffed by several volunteer
doctors, nurses and our bodywork friends, it was providing free
medical services to over 100 residents a day (7 - 9,000 visits from
hurricane to Dec. 9th). Why was the city of New Orleans not recognizing
the value of this clinic and facilitating them with a more appropriate
building?
 |
After sharing a wonderful lunch
prepared by the clinic staff, we set up on the sidewalk to enjoy
the freshness of the air and warmth of the sunshine as we played.
Clinic staff and residents took advantage of our "dinner music"
as they consumed their meals.
|
Later in the afternoon, we met a
wonderful but very vulnerable young Afro-American who said he had walked
from California to help with hurricane relief. He had been helping
some of the residents with a roofing project and sleeping within a
church. However the minister had turned him out. Sleeping
outside, he had been attacked by two men attempting to take his back
pack. Holding on for dear life, he had retained his possessions
but had received a nasty wound on his forehead. Clinic staff had
treated him.
I recognized the vulnerability of
this this man as he shared his story and his plight of no place to
stay that night. I thought about taking him back to the CGR center
but realized this unusually shy person needed isolation for comfort and
therefore would not do well in the confusion of 200 volunteers at the
CGR center.
Anne went inside the clinic and
shared the fate of our friend, and they assured us they would find
housing for him that night.
This demonstrated the attitude of
these tireless volunteers. They had come to New Orleans to
assist others. They were not angry about the limits of their
setting. They were only there to share their talents assisting the
unfortunate residents of this community. The smiles and warmth they
carried with their mission gave proof of their validity.
 |
As further indication of their dedication, they
would be moving their clinic across the street to an even smaller
and more rundown building the next day.
These people were just another example of the giving nature
that abounded in the volunteers assisting New Orleans
residents with the hurricane recovery process. |
If you would like to volunteer your
services or donate to help cover the costs of their very
important mission, you can contact them at Common Ground Health
Clinic http://www.cghc.org/
email
healthalgiers@yahoo.com
(504) 361-9800
1400 Teche St. (Algiers) New Orleans, LA 70114
Fixed mailing address: PO Box 741801, New Orleans, LA 70174-1801 |
