Lutheran Students Bring Hope to the U.S. Gulf Coast - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- Dressed in white a hard hat with a respirator over her face, Lisa Evans, a senior at Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind., said, "We're here to bring hope. We can make a big difference in just one week." Standing in front of a Hurricane Katrina-damaged house March 5 in New Orleans, Evans joined more than 800 college and university students participating in "What a Relief!" during the 2007 spring break. (more)

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elca > A group of students from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind., muck out a house in the New Orleans area as part of 2007 "What a Relief!" -- an opportunity for students to spend their spring break helping survivors of the 2005 hurricane season rebuild. Lutheran Disaster Response is organizing What a Relief! Valparaiso is an independent Lutheran university.

elca > A group of students from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind., haul debris from a house in New Orleans as part of 2007 "What a Relief!" -- an opportunity for students to spend their spring break helping survivors of the 2005 hurricane season rebuild. Lutheran Disaster Response is organizing What a Relief! Valparaiso is an independent Lutheran university.

elca > A group of students from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind., are taking part in 2007 "What a Relief!" -- an opportunity for students to spend their spring break helping survivors of the 2005 hurricane season rebuild. Lutheran Disaster Response is organizing What a Relief! Valparaiso is an independent Lutheran university.

elca > Participants of the 2007 "What a Relief!" -- an opportunity for students to spend their spring break helping survivors of the 2005 hurricane season rebuild -- are provided safety equipment. Lutheran Disaster Response is organizing What a Relief!

elca > Volunteers reside in "mobile bedroom" units at Camp Atonement, Metairie, La.

elca > Disaster response volunteers dine and relax after a hard day's work in the "dining tent" at Camp Atonement, Metairie, La.

elca > T-shirts adorn the interior of the "dining tent" at Camp Atonement, Metairie, La. It has become tradition for volunteers to sign and leave behind a t-shirt representing their school and/or home congregation. Finlandia University is one of 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA.

elca > "God Will Provide" is etched in paper cups on the entrance gate of Camp Atonement, Metairie, La.

A group of students from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind., muck out a house in the New Orleans area as part of 2007 "What a Relief!" -- an opportunity for students to spend their spring break helping survivors of the 2005 hurricane season rebuild. Lutheran Disaster Response is organizing What a Relief! Valparaiso is an independent Lutheran university.