George 'Dickie' Gauthier knew the first time he volunteered at a Red Cross shelter 14 years ago that he wanted to help in times of disaster. Now along with his wife, Nell, they wear two vests in Iberia Parish — CERT lime green and Red Cross.

Help comes from neighbors, friends and strangers

Memories of childhood hurricanes evoke mixed emotions. Boarded up windows, candlelight or oil lamps, high winds and an eerie green or golden glow as the eye moved over and beyond are the exciting parts of stormy weather. Cleanup in hot, muggy, insect swarming, unairconditioned housing is never pleasant at any age and not an inspiring reality for volunteering.

Recent floodwaters were more devastating than some past storms, but with each, the strength and perseverance of South Louisiana people rise relative to the disaster. Once again, Acadiana will triumph over tragedy thanks to the compassion of its people.

A day in the life of a volunteer might be a great concept for a story, but to pinpoint just one aspect or one person’s contribution from the many services and heartfelt donations of time, talent, equipment, services, funds, administrative skills, artistic ingenuity, sheer manpower hours and strength to mark a week of hustle — well, it just can’t be done easily.

Acknowledging everyone who selflessly gave and continues to give to others through these hard times would most certainly be flawed. Yet a glimpse into some of the reasons people volunteer can inspire others to pitch in with ways that fit their life parameters without fear of being asked to do something beyond a natural ability.

A Temporary Home

The call came at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 12, as floodwaters were rising quickly. Danny Viator, one of the eight Community Emergency Response Team volunteers who helped schedule training sessions, organize plans of operation and implement action in times of emergency, canceled personal travel and stopped packing for a weekend-getaway. Retirement didn’t mean Viator stopped using the life skills he’d learned and applied as a business manager. A shelter had to open.

George “Dickie” and Dorothy “Nell” Gauthier are well versed in the steps needed in times of an emergency. For more than 14 years they have been Red Cross volunteers. Now they are also part of the CERT team. The week ahead would mean co-managing the emergency shelter at the same location where they met at a dance in 1960.

They didn’t shy away from working 36-48 hours straight helping to set up the Cyr-Gates Community Center through CERT then transition it into the Red Cross shelter.

As both CERT and Red Cross volunteers, the Gauthiers at one point during the past week literally went out to their car and changed from the bright green CERT vests into their Red Cross vests, a seamless transition of authority coordinated by selfless volunteers moving between organizations. They weren’t the only ones, but they represent every unsung hero that remains nameless.

“It really takes an army,” Michael Wattigny said, a CERT volunteer helping out with the blessing of his employer. “So many volunteers, a dozen or so, did not quit. The purpose of CERT is for us to take care of our own.”

One volunteer story shared by Wattigny was about a parish council member they called in for a certain resource. After the need was met, as a volunteer couple, the council member and spouse stayed to serve 12 to 14 hours at a time doing things from the heart, not for political gain. They were even delivering sandbags in other people’s districts until they couldn’t do it anymore, Wattigny said.

“It really is a community effort from the leadership in government, social services and organizations whose job it is to address the needs of the residents down to the volunteers,” said Zack Mitchell, a community leader in so many ways his name has become synonymous with “help.”

“CERT becomes the integral part that touches the people, the volunteers as well as the government services starting at times with the Office of Homeland Security,” he said.

Clothing and Household Goods

Early on the scenes were groups like Solomon House and Ellen Nora who helped with collection and distribution of hygiene products. Families and individuals like the Taylor family bought basic hygiene items which their 10-, 8- and 5-year-old children packaged individually as kits and donated for distribution.

With each opening of the door last week at United Way of Iberia donations were being dropped off. The staff of volunteers kept track of who had needs and who had donations to make a match.

Robby Bethel, a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church ministry, Blessing New Iberia, and a fellow classmate of UW director Corlene Rouly, said last Wednesday the 1978 class from New Iberia Senior High School was stepping up to help as well as others.

“This is the first big opportunity we’ve had to partner with her church group,” Rouly said. “They and the Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center will be the ones at point for clothing. UW has the volunteers to do what we’re doing but we have been long-time supporters of the CERT team so we’re partnering with them. We’re collecting, they’ll head up distribution.”

Rouly expects they will be active for more than a month distributing products for recovery.

“We’ll be collecting and distributing clothing as long as it takes,” Bethel said.

Food and Resources

Buddy Bourgeois cooks for fun and for people he knows. He arrived at Cyr-Gates on Friday to begin feeding the people arriving at the shelter. When the Red Cross program kicked in supplying meals through Raintree Market in Baldwin, he retired from the kitchen and began coordinating the volunteers on the serving line. His efforts insured everybody got something to eat from day one at the shelter.

“We realized after Katrina we really needed to ramp up,” said Cheryl Cheramie, CERT shelter coordinator. “We went four or five years with nothing major happening but we have been in training to let people know about things they could do to help themselves until others can step in.”

Cheramie pointed to Wattigny and said that most of the work was being done by people like him, those behind the scenes, people that know where and how to reach out in order to get things done. That’s what you have to have, she said.

“You’ve got have someone writing the notes, ‘Michael, this is what I need,’ or ‘… the next step is …, I need an 18-wheeler of Clorox,’ and the resource man has got a brain on him to get it,” Cheramie said.

Mitchell said CERT is trying to stay two steps ahead of what is needed and critical. The shelter is a big part of what was needed. Now they’ll transition to recovery. Highland Baptist Church organized a workshop for people to learn what they needed to do to clean up their houses after the flood. Their focus was to put together volunteer cleanup teams to assist homeowners, he said.

“We’ve got the Robertson distribution center opening now, sorting, inventory. It comes down to the fact they’ll need everything,” he said.

Creative Volunteers

A number of creative volunteers, including Ann Simon, Paul Schexnayder and Becky Collins, knew exactly what to do at the Red Cross shelter. They showed up with art supplies and games to engage the children camping at Cyr-Gates shelter unaware of the reasons why they were no longer at home.

4-H groups and other teenagers brought in snow cone machines to treat the children and stranded adults or volunteers. People brought in books to read to the children and guitars to entertain the stressed out homeless as the rains continued to fall.

“We had quite a few volunteers coming in working with the kids, they really had a good time,” said Heather Dominique, superintendent of the New Iberia Recreation Department. “The music was an after-dinner thing to help them wind down. They brought in crayons and coloring books. That’s the plus side of volunteering.”

The organizers of Iberia Rocks came out and painted with the children. They were excited to have mementos of their experience.

Schexnayder, who had started a new collection of boat paintings earlier this summer, captured his heartfelt experience with “Onward” for fundraising.

Learning to Give Back

Rosemary Ramsey learned what to do in the volunteer staging area at the shelter by watching the woman in charge. With so many volunteers, she thought her time was no longer needed, but as people began going back to work after the initial weekend, a call brought her back to the shelter.

“They asked if I would come back in because they saw what I was doing. I knew what to do and like to be doing something,” Ramsey said. “I like to give back. I was once a victim of something. You learn through it to give back.”

Ramsey said she tells people all the time the way to get through tragedy is to give back — but they have to learn to do it.

“I’m on a fixed income. How do you think I can do the things I do?” Ramsey said. “There’s a principle in it. You give and you get back. You open up and do unto others and God will cause men to give unto your bosom. That’s the principle of volunteering and that’s why I do it. Not because I want them to give back to me, but because I was a victim and I needed someone to help me. I learned it and I’m going to keep on doing it as long as I can.”

As she taped up boxes of donated items for later use, Ramsey said she was monitoring what people were receiving so everyone would have what they needed without excess. This is not a way of life, she said.

“I’m not going to feel sorry for you. I know what’s happening. Let me help you get through it.” Ramsey said. “You can’t make crippled people. We’re not enablers. We’re supporting them through this. That’s what you want the person to know.”

The Iberia Parish Disaster Donation Distribution Center is located at 305 Robertson St.

Prints of his newest work will be featured as a fundraising item to benefit six parishes in the Community Foundation of Acadiana area affected by flooding.

“If someone from Lafayette buys it, it goes to Lafayette. If they buy in Iberia parish, proceeds go to Iberia. Jenz Trenz in New Iberia is also doing T-shirts,” Michael Wattigny said.