I was recently watching a TV special on the Home and Garden TV Network (HGTV) about Mike Holmes of “Holmes on Homes” and his Canadian renovation crew, who on their own accord went down to New Orleans to help with the restoration of the Lower Ninth Ward which was the area that got hit by the brunt of Hurricane Katrina. What really struck me was that after three years the few people that had moved back were still fighting to get street lights turned back on and general conveniences like a grocery store built in their neighborhood.

Down in New Orleans, Mike Holmes had teamed up with Brad Pitt’s “Make It Right Foundation”, which also strives to restore livable and hurricane proof homes to the residence that were hit hardest when the levees broke and caused massive damage to New Orleans, making it one of the worst natural disasters to hit America in this century. Not only were lives lost but a piece of American history was lost forever in the buildings and musical culture of the region.

While down there Mike and his crew experienced the volatility of the region as torrential rain and lightening hindered the production of a home he was building on stilts for one of the ladies and her six grandkids who had lost their home as well as some family members to the storm. It was a sad and enlightening experience as other people who had also lost everything begged Mike for his help, but he was just one man trying to make a difference and he couldn’t help everyone.

What Mike wanted to do was show the world what little had been done to help these people. After three years, the roads were still impassable or non existent in some areas and vacant lots were everywhere where the flood waters had washed away homes and taken lives. Grass was over 5-6 feet high, devastated houses, busted trees, piles of garbage and broken rubble and mud were still everywhere. It was almost as if the flood had just occurred a few weeks ago judging by the amount of restoration that had actually been done.

I felt sorry for the poor residence of the Big Easy that the rest of America had conveniently forgotten about. And I applauded Mike Holmes for reminding us that one man can still make a difference, even if it is only to remind us we cannot sweep this disaster under the rug as the storm swept away so many hopes and dreams. I believe it is our moral responsibility to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Even if we give but a little, that little will become lots when combined with the little of the many and it can make a difference in someone’s life and perhaps even provide the security of a safe and stable roof over someone’s head. One less worry to have to deal with in this sometimes difficult journey we call life.

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