Helping rebuild America on spring break

Nearly six months after hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravished the gulf coast, much of the devastation still remains. So much devastation that it's expected to take a minimum of 10 years to rebuild the Mississippi and Louisiana area.

Instead of taking the week off to soak up the sun and socialize, some KU students put their efforts towards a more productive spring break. Members of the KU Jewish student group Hillel decided they wanted to help directly in the Gulf Coast rebuilding effort.

"It's my last spring break," Laura Holzman, Hillel Member, said. "I could go and party it up and go to Cancun or any of those other places, but when there's something that needs to be done for the community, there's something I could give my time to. When there's so little, like you feel like you can do living in Kansas, I feel like it was a good cause and a good reason to go there."

Holzman, along with seven other Hillel members and a group leader, spent seven days in Gulf Port rebuilding eight roofs and one entire house. Holzman said the trip was well worth her time and she would encourage anyone who has the chance to also go.

"I feel like everyone should be at least doing something to try to go down there," Holzman said. "If it's only for a week then that's fine, but it's our job as a community and living in the United States to do something for people who need our help."

Now that the Hillel students have returned from their trip, they plan to continue helping the Gulf Coast region from here in Lawrence. The students want to raise money on campus for hurricane victims and collect items, such as sunscreen, needed in the south.