July 15, 2008, flood-recovery supplies warehouse, Cedar Rapids.
Cleaning out flood-affected homes requires lots of supplies.
AmeriCorps VISTA members unloaded semi trucks stocked with boxes and equipment, then arranged it in a warehouse. When equipment arrives unassembled, the VISTAs get busy and put it together.
It was hot and humid in the warehouse on July 15, but four VISTAs -- Elie Lowenfeld, 21, of New York City; John Schneider, 22, of Cedar Rapids; Joe Lasko, 20, of Lakeville, Minn.; and Jenna Trachta, 19, of Cedar Rapids -- stepped outside of their comfort zones and got to work putting together generators.
From shovels and hammers to generators and power washers, supplies from Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) and other agencies and organizations must be stored until needed.  Bill Hoekstra, of Community Corrections Improvement Association,  was put in charge of gathering, storing, organizing and tracking supplies.

What's an E-ring?
After assembling portable generators to be used at flood cleanup sites, four AmeriCorps VISTA members know the answer to that question. After the four worked together putting together the first generator, they formed and assembling line to put together the rest of the equipment.



Putting together equipment is a team effort for AmeriCorps VISTA members John Schneider, left, Elie Lowenfeld, center, Joe Lasko, right, and Jenna Trachta, far right. Bill Hoekstra, center, of Community Corrections Improvement Association, supervises their work. Hoekstra said the four VISTA members were such good workers unloading a truck on Saturday that he asked them to be assigned to the warehouse Monday and Tuesday.



AmeriCorps VISTA member Joe Lasko, far right, decided it was time to get out the instructions. John Schneider, left, Elie Lowenfeld, center, and Jenna Trachta (partially hidden behind Joe), listen to him describe their next step. Bill Hoekstra, center, supervises.

Elie Lowenfeld, left, said assembling generators in a hot, humid warehouse in Iowa is a lot different than his life as a student in New York City. His attitude about being an AmeriCorps VISTA member is pretty much the same as everyone else's: just pitch in and do what needs to be done. Joe Lasko reads Elie the details of how to attach the next piece.