Mission to serve takes woman to Gulf
After completing their educations, typical college graduates might pursue an entry-level job and an affordable place to live. Cranberry Township native Kelsey Blum, on the other hand, followed a more adventurous path.
Since graduating from Slippery Rock University with a public relations degree, Blum has traveled the United States as a volunteer, ultimately settling in coastal Mississippi to manage the Camp Victor volunteer center.
Blum has overseen the efforts of some 55,000 volunteers in repairs and reconstruction for 3,500 Mississippi homes damaged nearly five years ago by Hurricane Katrina.
She attributes much of her talent for humanitarian work to her Butler County upbringing.
"My parents were always very involved with the community," Blum said. "I danced, and we always did benefits for local organizations.
"I realize now how interested in (humanitarianism) I was."
As president of the Seneca Valley Class of 2002, Blum frequently performed volunteer work — an interest that continued during her time at Slippery Rock.
"My roommate did volunteer work. She said, 'Kelsey, I know this is something you'd be interested in.'"
Blum was trained under the federal AmeriCorps program after college, working for two years around the United States.
She decided to settle in Mississippi when a job opened at the Lutheran Episcopal Services' Camp Victor volunteer center.
The camp is a gathering point for volunteers from around the country; Blum manages their efforts and sends workers to job sites along the Gulf coast.
Jessie Slade, a 72-year-old musician, is one of many Mississippi residents to benefit from Blum's volunteer organizing.
"It was almost 125 mile-per-hour winds (during Katrina)," Slade said. "A big cedar tree blew down on top of my house."
Camp Victor volunteers, coordinated by Blum, have spent months replacing windows, floors and drywall in Slade's home."They've done a wonderful job. I'm so happy here," Slade said. "I tell you what — it took me a while to get some volunteers, but I sure am happy now."While Blum's work has contributed to countless home reconstructions, she said the demand for volunteers is still great, with thousands of houses needing further repair.According to Blum, the recent Gulf oil disaster has made volunteer organizing more difficult."We've been asked by the mayor of our town to house volunteers for the oil spill," she said.Blum said some of her job's benefits, however, center on meeting home-repair clients as well as working with church group volunteers from across the country — including her Western Pennsylvania home."We've got a lot of people who come from Pittsburgh," she said.According to Blum, upon arriving at Camp Victor, she noticed Terrible Towels, Penn State gear and a mock Super Bowl trophy on a wall."Since then, we've added a Stanley Cup," she said.Other workers traveled a shorter distance to stay at the camp.Michael Krause, a volunteer staying at Camp Victor with his Georgia church group, said he has enjoyed his stay at Blum's center."This is my first (time working from Camp Victor)," Krause said. "It's a great place to stay. I'd definitely do it again."Krause works with several other volunteers repairing homes for Blum's volunteer clients.Working alongside friends, Blum maintains a positive outlook for the future."We have no plans on leaving," she said. "People here say 'The hurricane was an act of nature. What's happening here now is an act of God.'"
