From the onset of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Raytheon has been a dedicated supporter of the relief efforts through generous corporate philanthropy, as well as technology and technical services donations. In the same spirit of giving, Raytheon employees across the company have provided both monetary and on-the-ground support, actively seeking opportunities to personally assist those affected by Katrina. Their stories reflect the kindness, generosity, strength and resilience of the human spirit — the positive aspect of this devastating event.

Providing a Warm-Hearted Texas Welcome
Raytheon Technical Services Company employee Earle Powdrell, and his wife, Kathy, were watching the late night news on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005, when a live broadcast from Houston’s Reliant Park showed Katrina evacuees stranded on buses, desperate for water, waiting for their chance to enter the already-crowded facility. Earle and Kathy sprang into action: they rushed to a nearby grocery store, purchased large amounts of water, juice, Gatorade® and granola bars, loaded up their vehicle, and drove to the rescue of the approximately 50 busloads of damp, weary and thirsty people.

As they unloaded and distributed their cargo, Earle and Kathy received an extremely grateful response from the evacuees, who ranged from infants to the elderly. With the help of their daughter and her boyfriend, they stayed at Reliant Park from midnight until 4:00 a.m. the next morning, talking with the evacuees, handing out refreshments, and providing much-needed care and concern.

Volunteering Through the Labor Day Weekend
The following day, Earle and Kathy returned to Reliant Park, where they served meals, helped evacuees obtain medical attention, and performed other tasks as needed. Finding the experience extremely rewarding, they volunteered to provide support throughout the Labor Day weekend. “They were long, hard hours,” says Earle, “but the satisfaction of helping people meet their very fundamental needs was tremendous.”

Getting an elderly woman back on her feet by procuring a cane, turning a shopping cart into a basketball hoop for a young girl who loves to shoot, finding the right transportation to reunite a man with his wife — these were just a few aspects of Earle’s days at Reliant Park. He and Kathy also made a special connection when they helped a blind man obtain a walking stick, new clothes and other necessities. After helping the man locate and communicate with his family, they continued to look out for him during his stay at Reliant Park, providing clothes and other supplies, visiting often and taking him out to dinner.

“We’re fortunate here in Houston to have the opportunity to help the people of New Orleans personally in this time of need,” says Earle. The many evacuees whose lives Earle and Kathy touched must also feel fortunate to have encountered this caring and generous couple.

Adopting a Family
For Bruce Wooldridge of Raytheon Network Centric Systems in Dallas, inviting a displaced family into his home was not only rewarding, but also a tremendous learning experience. Soon after seeing news reports of the disaster, he and his wife Connie set out to adopt a family. The first thing they learned was the challenge of volunteering: making immediate contact with volunteer organizations and referrals by phone or Web proved difficult. Once that hurdle was cleared, things moved quickly and on Labor Day, Bruce headed to Dallas’s Reunion Arena to pick up a family of three.

The family assigned to the Wooldridge's — a couple and their 15-year-old son — had left New Orleans the day before Katrina hit, escaping with little more than some clothing. The Reunion Arena shelter provided them with some clothes and other basic necessities. After bringing the family home, the Wooldridges’ top priority was helping them register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other government agencies. This led to lesson two: the administrative intricacies involved in pursuing food stamps, social security benefits and housing assistance.

Using their computer research skills and knowledge of the local area, the Wooldridge's navigated their adoptive family through the bureaucratic maze. Bruce credits Connie as the major force behind this effort, “She was phenomenal, personally taking them to all the various offices you had to go to for help.”

Helping People Rebuild Their Lives
Getting the couple’s son registered for school turned out to be much easier than other administrative tasks. Bruce enrolled him at a local campus right after the Labor Day holiday and gave him a bike for transportation. Exhibiting the resilience Earle Powdrell observed in the kids he helped at Reliant Park, the teenager quickly jumped into his new environment and made friends.

The family stayed with the Wooldridge's for 13 days before finding an apartment in the Garland, Texas, community. During that time, with the Wooldridges’ help, they were able to contact most of their large extended families. The father also found steady work at a local company. For Bruce and Connie, helping the family rebuild their lives after losing virtually everything has been a satisfying experience. They plan to stay in touch with their adopted family and have offered them further assistance as needed.

Sharing Culture and Experience
As expected when lives are abruptly and severely disrupted, the evacuees’ sadness and frustration were part of the families’ shared experience, and the Wooldridge's did their best to provide support. There were pleasant and memorable cultural exchanges as well, like taking turns cooking dinner, enabling both families to try something new. Bruce’s smoked sausage barbecue was a hit, as was the spicy New Orleans' version of pasta the Louisiana family prepared. Several of the Wooldridges’ neighbors joined in welcoming the family to the neighborhood, bringing monetary donations, encouragement and homemade treats of their own.

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