Recovering from disaster, if you don’t have the money to hire contractors, electricians, plumbers, and purchase building materials, is a punishing,  seemingly interminable grind of hoops to jump through, doors closed in your face, well-meant promises that don’t come through, and constant despair that you will never get home again.  That’s what we’ve learned by walking hand-in-hand with the courageous disaster survivors we’ve had the honor to work with.

In response, Love Knows No Bounds has designed a program that is new in the disaster relief world: respite.  Simply put, people under severe stress need a break from time to time to refresh and keep going.  That’s something probably any of us can relate to, if we have ever experienced a time of prolonged stress.

In the world of the disaster survivor, when there are layers of trauma, loss, and grief on top of the daily grind, it can be down-right life-saving to take some time away from the stress and get nourished by beauty, self-care, celebration, and connection with life outside of the disaster.  In the poignant words of Walter J., a disaster survivor from the 9th Ward of New Orleans,  “Sometimes you don’t know you’re about to break down until you get a break and then you realize how much you needed one.  Love Knows No Bounds reminds us that we need to take a break in order to be strong for the long haul.”

One of our most well-received programs over the past 5 years has been our collaboration with the PeaceWeavers, of Bath, NY, who have welcomed over 90 Katrina survivors to their retreat center for a week of respite since 2007.  Participants get to experience the natural beauty of the rolling hills of the Finger Lakes region of New York, get to talk about their experiences in talking stick circle, sing, learn yoga, meditation, and other healing practices, and, most importantly, get to be away from the constant strain of the recovery process in New Orleans.

So, please give disaster survivors a break that may save their lives.  Make a contribution to Love Knows No Bounds today to support this innovative, soul-sustaining program.