Volunteers Camped Out In Tents Try To Keep Warm As The Cold Weather Moves In
As the cold settled into South Mississippi, some volunteers were outside braving the cold.
About 50 volunteers are living outside in tents behind the Beauvoir United Methodist church off Pass Road in Biloxi. Elly Lehnert is one of those volunteers, but she says the chill won't get the best of them. They are prepared.
"I added another sleeping bag, so I have not only sleeping bags but two blankets on top," says Lehnert.
"I have, as you can see, this robe here. It's pretty warm. I got it at the Thrift store. And also sometime, I steal the dog, Helicopter, to have her come cuddle with me," says Marjorie Russow, a volunteer with Hands On USA.
This is Lehnert's second time volunteering in Biloxi. On her first visit she endured the heat, now she's braving the cold, but despite the change in weather she says her commitment hasn't changed.
"I was here earlier in March through May working in the heat, so the cold it's a nice change. But it doesn't change the fact that the work we do here is really important. We're really committed to the residents and making sure that they get going in the community again," says Lehnert.
On her second visit, Lehnert is focused on reaching out to the Latino community by doing things like tutoring and teaching English.
Lehnert says she has some tips for fellow volunteers as they try to keep warm and carry on with their efforts to help South Mississippi rebuild.
"Making sure you have lots of layers. Have a stocking cap on when you go to bed and an extra pair of socks and yeah you'll make it through."
