February 2nd, 2006 from Bruce LeBel of World Shelters

Temple to Temple has been working in the Mississippi Gulf Coast since the first weeks after Hurricane Katrina, with continuous support from World Shelters. Their initial objectives were to provide immediate relief to the devastated neighborhoods in East Biloxi peninsula that were hit simultaneously by 27ft storm surge from the north and the south. These low-income neighborhoods are a mix of African American and Vietnamese communities. Based in the Buddhist Temple in East Biloxi, Temple to Temple created a 'point of distribution' that provide food, water, ice, household supplies and many other identified services such as debris removal to the surrounding neighborhood. They also rehabilitated the Buddhist Temple in which 40 elderly parishioners and temple master Lee had survived the storm by climbing into the attic where the water reached their shoulders before subsiding. Temple to Temple continued providing required supplies and services to this neighborhood through early January 2006, at which time they relocated to Pearlington, MS where there was greater need for their relief work.

After completing the Temple rehabilitation, with expanded support from World Shelters and the Buckminster Fuller Institute providing complete 'Autonomous Living Units', Temple to Temple relocated to Pearlington, MS to continue their work with a focus on debris removal and recycling of materials and equipment. Their four-month commitment and base camp on a concrete slab that was the former Post Office was catalyzed by provision of additional shelters, solar electric panels, high-efficiency refrigerators and composting toilets donated by World Shelters and BFI. "We wouldn't be here without the support of World Shelters and the Buckminster Fuller Institute" Richard Scott, director of Temple to Temple, stated emphatically. "Unlike Biloxi, this section of Pearlington has no electricity or other services. The solar equipment, solar refrigerator and composting toilets provide the support our team requires." The Temple to Temple crew of 12 volunteers has joined forces with Disaster Corps to provide complementary services continuing the debris removal, house-gutting and recycling required as the initial steps in rehabilitation of Pearlington, which was completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

Bruce LeBel
Executive Director
Contact Bruce via email

01 707 822 3432 office / direct
01 707 845 5654 mobile
01 707 822 6600 factory / warehouse
01 707 822 6644 fax