Women's Soccer News Soccer Junior Aids in Katrina Relief
While many college students rush to the beach for their spring break, junior Rachel Hosmer was not one of them. Instead of taking the much anticipated break as a time to kick back and relax on a vacation, Hosmer offered up her spring break to aid in Katrina Relief. As a member of the Bonner Program (for more information about the Bonner Program click here), Hosmer participated in a United Way Alternative Spring Break program. Along with thirteen other Centre students, Hosmer travelled to Biloxi, Mississippi, to aid in rebuilding of the still hurricane ravished community. Although it has been two and a half years since Katrina devastated the gulf coast, its destructive power was still evident throughout the community.
While in Biloxi, Hosmer worked with a Community Mapping Group. Along with others, she worked to remap Biloxi so that housing resource companies could better assess which areas were in need of the greatest help. Travelling throughout the community to assess the damage, Hosmer faced the destruction of the hurricane first hand as piles of debris littered the sidewalks and foundations lay bare. After seeing the destruction and wondering why these people had continued to live in the wreckage of Katrina, Hosmer was moved by the perseverance of the people in the face of such tragedy. “Biloxi is their home and they would rather risk living there than go anywhere else. A common theme that I continue to relearn with service is that I feel I gain more from the experience than the ones I serve. This was certainly true with my trip to Biloxi . The community was so welcoming and appreciative. It helped me put things in perspective and realize how blessed I am,” added Hosmer. So while many of her fellow classmates were lying out on the beach, soaking in the rays, Rachel was soaking in the destruction of Katrina and working her hardest to help the Biloxi community overcome this tragedy. |
