Friday, October 1, 2010

October 1, 2010- Site Supervisor Bridget Hatfield Recounts the Whirlwind Past Few Weeks of Working for SBP

It's hard to believe how quickly the past three weeks have flown by here at the St. Bernard Project. We have been busy, busy, busy!! And as a site supervisor I am blessed enough to be right smack dab in the middle of the action.
Bridget with retired NFL player Marcus Allen

For the 5th Anniversary of Katrina the Project hosed a 50 hour build. That's right---two homes running for FIFTY hours straight. Excited to be part of history, I worked two if the six shifts (including the 1am-9am shift!!) at the Williams Home. You think it was a challenge?  it was--but it was great to see some familiar faces from the "Big Easy" community dinner hosted every month for volunteers, the office (!!!) and some SBP long time friends. We stated the shift having PLENTY to do to finish the home, and close to 12 dozen doughnuts (we had to keep our blood sugar soaring, right?). By 6am the sun was rising and as we took a break one last push to finish our projects got us through till breakfast.


Once 5pm rolled around, the Williams family was welcomed home in true New Orleans fashion-- music and seafood! That evening reminded me of the many reasons that I came down to New Orleans from Northern Virginia. A great success.

Still recovering from the mixed-up sleep schedule I was in the queue for NFL volunteers (important corporate sponsors, Hall of Fame-ers, and the commissioner of the NFL himself), and some even more important volunteers as well...my parents!! That's right! My parents, from Washington, DC to work all week long. They experienced my life, sweating in the field every day, cleaning up after a long day of work, going to meetings, teaching volunteers, and creating bonds through common ideals. Although sore, and ready for a few days to relax, we enjoyed the experience all around.  It meant the world to me to have them on site. To experience my life, work towards similar goals and to see everything that has become my normal here in New Orleans. My mom and dad both shared with me that they really had no idea until they experienced it.

I truly believe that that is the only way to know, for sure, what New Orleans still NEEDS. So, experience it.  Maybe I'll see you Monday morning--in my staff shirt, smiling, with a roll of blue tape...waiting to connect you with a family who is more deserving now than ever before.