After Katrina, They Showed Up. Nearly 20 Years Later, They Still Are.

Klene Up Krewe volunteers and SBP staff working on a rebuild site in New Orleans in 2022

On the fifth anniversary of 9/11, a small group of volunteers from northern New Jersey felt a deep pull toward New Orleans, a city still reeling a year after Hurricane Katrina. Just as thousands had stepped up to help in the aftermath of 9/11, they wanted to be part of New Orleans’ recovery—offering their time, skills, and compassion to help the city rebuild.

During one of those early trips, the Klene Up Krewe team discovered a newly formed SBP operating out of a modest space in St. Bernard Parish. What began as a single trip in September 2006 has since blossomed into a decades-long partnership with SBP and the community. 

• Over the years, Klene Up Krewe has brought more than 400 volunteers to New Orleans and dedicated thousands of hours to disaster recovery. 
• Their commitment has extended beyond Louisiana, reaching communities affected by Superstorm Sandy in their own state, hurricanes in Texas, and, most recently, flooding in North Carolina.

Volunteers are the backbone of disaster recovery in America

Over the past two decades, more than 150,000 volunteers have supported SBP’s mission to bring families home—whether by hammering down roofs, installing drywall, or even crafting greeting cards to welcome homeowners back.

SBP’s model—working alongside homeowners, prioritizing efficiency, and focusing on long-term recovery—aligned perfectly with Klene Up Krewe’s commitment to service.

Stuart Himmelfarb, CEO and a co-founder of B3/The Jewish Boomer Platform and the Active Aging Network, and David J. Goodman, a partner at PKF O’Connor Davies Advisory LLC and past president of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, co-founded the Klene Up Krewe.

“We sat on picnic tables in the back and got briefed—there was this sense of working together as a big team,” Himmelfarb recalled of their first experience with SBP, then known as St. Bernard Project. “That was trip number three or four for Klene Up Krewe. Now we’re on trip 30. We just kept coming back.”

“What SBP does is different,” said Goodman. “They don’t just rebuild homes. They empower homeowners, walk them through FEMA applications, and make sure they aren’t left behind. That was incredibly inspiring for us.”

“It wasn’t just about rebuilding homes: It was about teaching younger generations the importance of service”

The Klene Up Krewe’s efforts have always been about more than just construction. Their work has created intergenerational connections, as parents and their children volunteer side by side swinging hammers, painting walls, and installing drywall. 

“One of the most magical things we discovered was how meaningful this work became when we brought high school and college students,” Himmelfarb said. “My son joined, David’s kids joined, and soon we had multiple families volunteering together. It wasn’t just about rebuilding homes—it was about shaping values, teaching younger generations the importance of service.”

This experience sparked a tradition and created an ever-expanding circle of volunteers dedicated to service.

For Goodman, the motivation to help New Orleans in those early years was deeply personal. As a Tulane University alum, he had fond memories of the city that shaped him as a young adult. After Hurricane Katrina devastated the city, he saw a place that was unrecognizable and felt compelled to give back to the community that once welcomed him. Similarly, Himmelfarb, though never having lived in New Orleans, was moved by the call to action embedded in Jewish values—tikkun olam, the responsibility to repair the world. Their community, the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, is a key partner in the Krewe’s mission.

When Superstorm Sandy struck the East Coast, they turned their attention to the devastation in their backyard to help with SBP’s recovery efforts in New Jersey and New York. “When Superstorm Sandy hit our own communities in New Jersey, SBP was there,” said Goodman. “It only felt right to show up for them like they had shown up for New Orleans.”

“We keep coming back, because disasters don’t stop. But neither do we.”

Klene Up Krewe has left an indelible mark on the communities they have served. But the impact isn’t one-sided. Volunteering has profoundly shaped the lives of those who participate. “We’ve helped others, but we’ve also helped ourselves,” Himmelfarb reflected. “The rewards are so many, on so many levels.”

At 73, Himmelfarb advocates for active aging, using Klene Up Krewe as a testament to the vitality and purpose that volunteering can bring to people of all ages. “There’s no age limit to making a difference,” he said. “We work hard, eight-hour days on these trips. And I’ll keep doing it as long as I can.”

For Goodman, volunteering has been an extension of the values his parents instilled in him. “They set the example for me,” he said. “I’ve always been about helping people, whether in my profession as a CPA or through volunteer work. Seeing New Orleans come back, knowing we played a small part in that—that’s what keeps me going.”

Klene Up Krewe remains committed to going wherever they are needed and bringing with them the spirit of service that has defined their work for nearly two decades. “We told New Orleans we’d come back until the job was done,” Goodman said. “And we keep coming back, because disasters don’t stop. But neither do we.”