20 West Virginians and two Virginians representing the Presbytery of West Virginia will return to New Orleans the week of March 13-21 to continue the work of RHINO (Rebuilding Hope in New Orleans) a ministry of the St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church. Since Katrina’s devastation in 2005 over 4000 volunteers from the US as well as overseas have joined together in partnership to help rebuild the city.
Initial work following the storm involved gutting and repairing existing homes. In 2006 partnership with Habitat for Humanity RHINO volunteers contributed to the building of Musician’s Village in the upper 9th Ward. In 2007 work began restore an abandoned street called Ferry Place involving construction of 14 new homes, seven of which were financed by RHINO. On completion of Ferry Place in May 2010, work began a few blocks away in the Pensiontown neighborhood. RHINO was one of six national ministries honored at General Assembly this past summer.
Participants this year are: Brenda Ely, Morgantown First, Jim, Ginger and Christina Carrano from First Presbyterian in Parkersburg; Ken and Jeanne Pote, Allison Deem, Zachary Hoyle, Marcus Pinti, and Doug Grey from Bridgeport, Bob and Lynn Wood from Bream Memorial, Charleston; Jim Sothen from South Park, Charleston; Rick Cook and Todd Wright, Village Chapel, Charleston, Ron Claar, Riverlawn Presbyterian, St. Albans; Michael Kincaid, Mt. Hope Christian Church; Mark Miller, Bluestone Conference Center; Cam Lewis and Marie Newcomb, Beckley Presbyterian, and Mike and Linda Sims from Greenwich Presbyterian Church in Nokesville, Virginia.
We are privileged to be able to come together to contribute to the continuing work of rebuilding homes, neighborhoods and lives as we put our collective hearts and hands to work to bear witness to God’s love.