Volunteers Spend Their Holiday Break Working on Flood Damaged Homes

By Justin Foss, Reporter

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By KCRG Intern

Story Created: Nov 27, 2009 at 7:03 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 27, 2009 at 7:12 PM CST

About 40 people worked off their holiday dinner today by working on flood-damaged homes in Cedar Rapids.

Americorps Vista workers are teaming with volunteers for what they call a Harvest of Hope.

The workers, many of whom aren’t from the area, are using this as an alternative Thanksgiving.

They say coming here to help out is eye-opening, and when it comes to gutting homes, a good workout.

Organizers billed this as a way to take a different Spring Break, except it's not spring, and this is not a break.

While many people go home and spend time with family this weekend, these workers are cleaning and gutting homes that families used to live in.

"There's so much that goes into it, and you have to be so meticulous about tearing it down, piece by piece and it doesn't get done as quickly as you think it's going to be,” says Meredith Kamis.

The workers and volunteers are heading out again tomorrow to do more work. They've got six projects this weekend and hope to have them all done by tomorrow afternoon.

Ameri-corps says for each hour worked by volunteers, FEMA will give the city almost 17 dollars for rebuilding.

You can help out tomorrow from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. by calling 319-540-4810.

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