Alumnus serves in Gulf Coast

FEMA. Most people know it as the Federal Emergency Management Association. Others know it simply as a nickname for Justin Meyers.

"After the Sept. 11th attacks, he was in New York helping out. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, he went to Texas to volunteer. Justin is always where the disaster is, so we just decided to call him FEMA," said Peter Marino, BC '03.

After spending four years at Boston College, Meyers, BC '03, wanted to do some type of service. He enrolled in Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education program (ACE) shortly after graduating. This took him to Pensacola, Fla., where he taught high school Spanish classes for two years while working toward his master's degree in education. Though he loved teaching, he decided to take a summer away from it in order to experience other possibilities in Chicago.

Not two weeks after his move - and still looking for a new job - he received a call from his cousin, an employee of the Catholic Charities organization in Houston, asking for his help.

"She said that they needed a Spanish-speaking case worker, and I still hadn't found a job yet, so I hopped on a plane and headed down to Texas," said Meyers. "I felt so lucky that I was able to go. I just knew that I was meant to be there."

When Meyers arrived in Houston, people were just starting to stabilize after Hurricane Katrina. The people that he met told him horror stories of what happened to them in New Orleans, and how many of their family members or friends didn't make it out. "Because of what everyone was seeing on the news, when they saw that Rita was headed towards here, they panicked. Everyone wanted to evacuate, even if the hurricane wasn't on a path towards them," said Meyers. "We closed shop for a few days, then, when we opened back up last Tuesday, we were swarmed. I felt like it was déjà vu. I heard the same type of horror stories all over again, and that's what we are still dealing with now."

Meyers' answer to the call of service is something that was instilled in him during his BC days. As an undergraduate, he was involved with several service programs including Appalachia, a Nicaragua service trip, PULSE, and the Undergraduate Government of BC. He often referred to what one of his former professors, Rev. Himes, called "Agape," or the pure self gift, and how it still plays a role in his everyday life."All the time, I look around and am amazed at how unbelievable the spirit is here. The people I've met, the lessons I've learned and the lives I've encountered are just so inspiring; they make me want to work harder and harder every day," he said.

For nearly a month, Meyers has been working with hurricane victims on a daily basis. He aids them by discerning what their needs are, both immediate and long-term, and then deciding how the Catholic Charities organization can best help them. This help can be translated into the immediate provisions of food, water, clothing, shelter, money, and medicines. Catholic Charities is one of the only organizations that also helps with long-term assistance, such as job support, information on homes and apartments, relocation, and healthcare services. "Pretty much anything these people need, we try to find for them," said Meyers.

As of Sept. 30, the Catholic Charities Organization of Houston has seen over 2,144 families and spent over $1 million helping them. On Friday alone, Catholic Charities met with over 320 families, many of whom were lined up outside its center at 4 a.m. for an 8 a.m. opening.

"The immense need of these people is not something that will go away in two months; we are such a long way away. But maybe this will be the good that comes from all the disaster. The normally neglected issues of poverty, joblessness, and homelessness are being brought to the forefront by this whole ordeal; maybe this can help us fix what is not working in our society."

Meyers credits BC for instilling in him a love of service, and for molding him into the person that he became. Though he was offered a full-time job with Catholic Charities, it wouldn't surprise his friends if Meyers' kindhearted, giving nature led him elsewhere.

"Justin will always be where he is most needed. He is a compassionate person who is always willing to give a hand, and not for his own glory. Justin does what he does because he knows it's the right thing to do, and that's enough for him," said Marino.