As the fourth group to make a Gulf Coast Mission Trip as a result of Hurricane Katrina; The Magnificent Seven spent the week at Camp Coast Care in Long Beach, Mississippi.  The group consisted of parishioners:  Judy and Duncan Varty, Gail Ott, Ed Beck, Mike Moore, and Sue and Jamey Lennane.  Their jobs included framing, mudding and sanding, installing drywall and painting.  Also kitchen duties and cleaning the common living areas around the camp were expected.

Camp Coast Care has housed over 12,000 volunteers since Hurricane Katrina.  Many groups like Trinity-by-the-Cove’s are repeat volunteers. Over 391 homes have been rehabbed and 22 new homes constructed.  Each Trinity volunteer who participated felt the trip was very worthwhile and each felt very rewarded by the experience.

Experts have estimated a 10 years minimum for the reconstruction of the Gulf Coast. It has been four years since the storms and we must not forget there is still much to be done.  Trinity-by-the-Cove hopes to sponsor a fifth service trip to the area next year.   Experienced and new team members are welcome to participate.  The residents who are helped are so appreciative and thankful.   

On May 15th Trinity's Service Commission teamed up with Kids Against Hunger for a second time to help feed the hungry in Collier County.  In just a few hours, volunteers from Trinity-by-the-Cove prepared 24,000 fortified Meals Ready to Eat (MREs).  The meals will be donated to the Harry Chapin organization and the Collier County Schools.  Meals are sent home with children who are on the free lunch program and are distributed to these familes for pick up sites in the summer.