Sierra Campbell has been helping victims of Hurricane Katrina in the Waveland, Miss., region. Read her account of one family's trials with Hurricane Katrina in the Oct. 5 Bloomington Alternative print edition.

Slowly those devastated by the recent Gulf Coast hurricanes emerge to face their battered lives. People help people rebuild 90,000 square miles of devastation along the Gulf Coast, while grassroots organizations and volunteers build houses, serve food and provide medical care.

Countless individuals caravan to the coastline with cars and trucks filled with supplies and equipment to help homeowners begin anew. Many find themselves using chainsaws for days, cutting their way through Katrina's mess and clearing lots for tents, new houses, or sale to one of the many speculators snooping through the devastation.

A June 11 open house at the Dagom Gaden Tensung-Ling Tibetan Buddhist monastery was filled with open-hearted visitors, light rain and great food. Visitors could not help but feel uplifted just passing by the golden building adorned with traditional Tibetan painting. Prayer flags, pleasant gardens, and abundant color greeted visitors at the monastery, located just north of Cascades Park.

The Taste of Tibet and open house gave the community an opportunity to share a bounty of authentic foods. The buffet menu boasted a variety of foods, such as the popular beef filled mo mo, tasty vegetarian dishes and Tibetan tea with ice cream for dessert.

"I feel better the next day after eating this food," said visitor and monastery student Julie Dadds. She gave tribute to the food being healthy and blessed by the monks.