Broken bridge

Caitlin Stahl-Hodgkins, left, Kimberly Dean and Erica Dube sit on a bridge in Biloxi, Miss., on their way to help rebuild homes in Van Cleave. The bridge, heavily damaged during Hurricane Katrina, still remains unfixed.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean

Broken bridge3

This bridge in Biloxi, Miss., was cracked into pieces that still lie half submerged almost a year after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean

Ceiling

From left, Bonnie Mincher, Kimberly Dean, and Chloe Cekada spent their week in Van Cleave, Miss., putting up dry wall and repairing the ceiling.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean

Floating bridge

Most of this bridge in Biloxi, Miss., is still missing 10 months after it was damaged during Hurricane Katrina.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean

Graveyard

The youth group paused at a Biloxi graveyard that was almost destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Many of the caskets were washed out to sea, and most of the gravestones are cracked and scattered around the area.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean

Groupshot at church

The West Scarborough United Methodist Church Youth group lived in the Van Cleave church for the week while they repaired homes in Mississippi. They shared two outdoor showers with 50 people and slept on the floor.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean

Hotel

The youth group stopped at this abandoned hotel in Biloxi, Miss., on their way to Van Cleave.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean

Intense spoons

A member of a South Carolina youth group, left; Kimberly Dean, middle, and Erica Dube play the card game spoons. At night, said group member Anna Mincher, they often played “intense” games of spoons to stay busy.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean

Living area

The group members slept on the floor of the church. Since there were other groups staying at the church they put as many people in a room as possible.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean

Park

On the way to Van Cleave, the youth group stopped in Biloxi, Miss. to look at what was once a park, but is now left in ruins.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean

The Wells

Carolyn and Lester Wells waited 10 months for a FEMA trailer. One week after contacting the Methodist Committee on Relief, someone was there appraising the damage to their house. “When we got there, they had tears in their eyes,” said Rev. David Calhoun.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean

Carolyn and Lester Wells are one of two families the youth group came to help. The group spent the week ripping out moldy wood and putting up dry wall.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean

Waiting

Group supervisor Laurie Carlson waits with the youth group in the JFK International Airport on their way home to Maine.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean

We’re OK

This sign painted onto a Biloxi, Miss., hotel was one of many the group saw on their two hour drive through the state to Van Cleave.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean

Working2

Chloe Cekada keeps things tidy during the dusty job of putting up drywall.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean

Working3

Kimberly Dean, left, Chloe Cekada, Anna Mincher and Bonnie Mincher take a break from installing drywall.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean

Working6

Group supervisors Arthur Chase, left, and Rev. David Calhoun measure some drywall. Behind them, from left, Kim Dean, Chloe Cekada, supervisor Laurie Carlson and Bonnie Mincher show their strength.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Dean