By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - A Niles native is helping to get the rebuilding process started in New Orleans.
Jeff Schwartz, 20, a 2004 graduate of Niles High School, is helping to make a difference in the lives of less fortunate people.
Upon graduation, Schwartz joined AmeriCorps, which is a network of local, state and national service programs which connects more than 70,000 Americans in intensive service to help meet the country's critical needs in education, public safety, health and the environment.
AmeriCorps members serve with more than 3,000 nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based and community organizations.
When Schwartz made his commitment to AmeriCorps, he requested an assignment with the New Orleans Habitat for Humanity affiliate.
When one signs up with AmeriCorps, it's a 10 and a half month commitment, where you complete 1,700 hours of work. Schwartz recently committed to another year with AmeriCorps.
Schwartz's assignment with the Habitat for Humanity organization has led him to becoming a construction supervisor on building projects.
Schwartz said he is happy with the work he is doing and is glad to be able to learn skills to use after his time with AmeriCorps is finished.
When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, Schwartz and the rest of the AmeriCorps workers had to evacuate just as the citizens of New Orleans did.
The group lived for a few weeks in Americus, Ga., which is where Habitat for Humanity is headquartered.
Schwartz and a group of displaced volunteers like himself were given the opportunity to take part in the New York Humanity Plaza project.
The Habitat for Humanity volunteers worked 24 hours a day and built the framing for 45 new homes.
Each night semi-trucks would come and the framing would be loaded up and driven to the devastated Gulf Coast region.
Schwartz in now living in Covington, La., at a church camp which the owner offered up for volunteers of Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross and FEMA.
Unlike some of the volunteers, Schwartz has already had the opportunity to go back into the city and said what he saw is simply surreal.
He described going into one section of town and it looking partially normal. People are out walking their dogs, restaurants are open and there is just a little damage to the buildings, which residents have begun to fix.
He then said he traveled to another section of town and it's the complete opposite. The water line is visible on all the buildings and there is debris everywhere and people haven't begun to try and fix things there, he said.
The home where Schwartz and his fellow New Orleans Habitat for Humanity volunteers lived had four feet of water in it after the hurricane hit and now has large amounts of black mold growing on the walls.
Schwartz encourages those who wish to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina to go to the Habitat for Humanity and AmeriCorps websites, where they can make donations.
He also said much work remains in the Gulf Coast region in the coming months and even years so there will be a lot of opportunities for people to volunteer in helping to rebuild.
On Tuesday, Schwartz was able to meet President George W. Bush as he traveled throughout in Louisiana.