Upon graduation, Linda Golden didn’t want to be stuck in a 9-to-5 job hustling coffee for people who make more than enough money to fetch it themselves. She wanted a purpose to her work and found it in the rebuilding of New Orleans.

“I didn’t think I could do a job where I wasn’t making a difference, that didn’t mean something to me,” said Golden (BA, Photography and French, Journalism minor, 2006). “And I always liked New Orleans.”

In October 2005, Golden traveled to New Orleans with three other Webster students to volunteer in the rebuilding effort. They spent five days refurbishing a couple’s home and sleeping in a church.



Upon graduation, Golden searched the Internet for volunteer opportunities and discovered the St. Bernard Project. So when the lease to her St. Louis apartment ended in August, Golden packed her bags and headed south.

She now serves as full-time volunteer coordinator for the St. Bernard Project, waiting tables in the French Quarter at night to pay her rent. The project is a grassroots, nonprofit organization that provides direct rebuilding, financial and community support to families in St. Bernard Parish displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the fall of 2005.

What makes the St. Bernard Project different from others in the Gulf Coast region is that it’s completely volunteer-led, meaning as little as 8 percent of its funding goes to covering the project’s overhead. The project also allows donors to select how they want their money spent and offers updates on its progress.



The toughest part of the project, Golden said, is determining exactly who to help first.

“It’s hard seeing how much need there is and, knowing how small an organization we are, that there’s only so much we can do,” Golden said. “It’s going to take a while to get all the work done that needs to get done.”

The St. Bernard Project is always seeking additional volunteers and Golden said she would welcome with open arms any Webster students or alumni who wanted to head her way. “Maybe we’ll see some students at spring break?” she said.

Golden said she plans to remain with the St. Bernard Project in the upcoming months, although her long term plans call for her to continue volunteering beyond U.S. borders. She’s hoping to join the Peace Corp’s efforts in Africa this summer.

Do you have a similar story to share? E-mail scan@webster.edu

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