NORWICH – The devastating effects of 2005’s hurricane Katrina are still evident along the gulf coast of New Orleans. Streets once lined with the vernacular architecture exclusive to the Bayou state are now bare, but some areas are making a comeback. Through the concerted efforts of organizations at all levels of government, many homeowners and businesses have rebuilt and restarted their lives.

For some, the government isn’t the only player in the game when it comes to lending a hand. Volunteer organizations such as Habitat for Humanity have assisted with the rebuilding homes for many families. Without the generous support of corporate sponsors and teams of volunteers donating time and often materials, none of this help would come into fruition and many otherwise deserving families may have slipped through the cracks of bureaucracy.

Enter Linda Lewis-Moors of Norwich. An employee of UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital, Lewis-Moors has heeded the call of volunteerism. For the past eight years she and a group of her Sigma Delta Tau sorority sisters – all graduates of Newcomb College of Tulane University – have donated their time to rebuilding New Orleans as members of Habitat for Humanity.

Prior to assembling the first of many annual week-long ventures to New Orleans, the members contributed checks and donated clothing to victims forced into the reality of having nothing left. “We just felt like we could do more, this just wasn’t enough,” Lewis-Moors stated.