A 34-hour road trip, hanging sheet rock, wiring a house, and clearing debris -- that's how eight members of the Stowe Vol. Fire Co. spent their vacation recently.
While watching Katrina's fury last year, the volunteers vowed to get involved. But they didn't self-dispatch. It took two months before they had a contact in a ravaged county in Mississippi. Once that happened, things started falling into place.
The Vermont volunteers, who just returned from their third trip to Harrison County, say they're in it for the long haul. They vow to encourage others to adopt communities still suffering.
"What impressed us was their desire to make sure we were OK. Even though they have suffered so much, that southern hospitality is still there," said James Charkalis, who just returned from his first trip. "They are the nicest people in the world."
Charkalis, 21, who enters a police academy later this month, said nothing prepared him for what he saw -- trees snapped in half, piles of debris and slabs where houses once stood. "People really don't realize that there's still so much work to do all over this region..."
Rolling up their sleeves and getting dirty are just what they had in mind when they decided to help. Yet something else has emerged. They've become close with volunteers in Mississippi.
Harrison County Fire Marshal George Mixon said his community looks forward to the notherners' visits. "They've done a lot of things here. They've made a difference. They're a great bunch."
Charkalis said it was a rewarding experience. "It was good to be involved. These people are struggling, and not making much progress..."
Stew Bouchard, of Stowe Rescue, said he wanted to help, not simply write a check. "You never know if the victims really get the money. This way you meet people, and really help them. That's why I'm involved."
There are tentative plans for some of the Mississippi volunteers to visit Vermont, and get a taste of northern hospitality.
After being quizzed about snow during their first visit at Thanksgiving last year, the group took snowballs with them on their next trip, said Ed Andrus, a firefighter for 18 years.
The entire Stowe region has embraced their fire company's effort, donating money and other items such as maple syrup, teddy bears and apple butter. On their most recent trip, they also took boxes of shirts donated to Firehouse.com's "Shirts off Our Back" program.
"Everyone loved those shirts. It was like Christmas here. Everyone was going through the boxes. We'd like to thank everyone for the shirts. They're great,"Mixon laughed.
Tim Courtney said it was interesting to see the progress that certain families have made in the past few months. However, there are some areas that are no better off.
"There's still so much to do down there. It's incredible. I don;t think people really understand that. Some places will probably never recover..."
Courtney, a volunteer firefighter for 16 years, said he's enjoyed putting smiles back on the faces of some hurricane victims. "They truly appreciate what we're doing. Being able to concentrate on a job and blast away on it for a few days has really made a difference."
The third grade teacher said the effort has boosted morale among the firefighters. "We've grown closer because of this. It's something we all believe in, and want to be part of."
They took turns driving the two extended cab pick-up trucks bearing Stowe Fire Department logo. When they stopped for fuel or to take a break, Albert Engelhart emerged with the Frisbee.
Courtney said their Frisbee breaks brought stares and smiles from other motorists, and provided brief exercise and laughs for the travelers.
Engelhart, a writer for Snowboarder Magazine, said he was looking forward to helping out anyway he could. Since it was his first trip south, everything was different.
Jammer Sgantas was anxious to see how people were doing since his last visit. "It was neat sitting in their living room. Only months ago, there were no rooms, no walls... Some were finished, and the people were very happy because they've moved back in."
The crews divided up in an effort to get more done, and Sgantas said the victims are very appreciative. They also helped secure office equipment for fire stations that lost everything to Mother Nature.
The college student who is pursuing a degree in landscaping said it still astonishes him to visit once thriving places like Biloxi and Gulfport where little has changed since Katrina's unwelcome visit.
"Gulfport is a ghost town, There were only one or two people walking around, and it was daytime. It was eerie," he said, adding that he wonders if things will ever get better.
The landscape also is different, and littered with dead brush and limbs. It's like time is standing still.
He said things would be different if other companies would adopt a community as they have. "These people need help. They refuse to give up. All they need is a little help."
Another trip is in the works, and volunteers have already signed up to go.
The Harrison County fire marshal said it's difficult for him to describe how much the Vermont volunteers' caring has meant. "We've been blessed to have been teamed up with them. The outpouring of compassion has been just wonderful."
Mixon said the county has learned valuable lessons. "The government operates at a snail's pace. There's a lot of red tape to get anything done."
That's why the community appreciates the donations. "One day I would love to go to Vermont and thank everyone personally for what they've done."
