5 years later, Ms. Sadie moves home

On Thursday, August 5th, Ms. Sadie Butler returned home to New Orleans. After five years in Knoxville, thanks to the hard work and collaboration of Roane County United Way, United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area, and Volunteers of America, this 94 year-old woman and her son are finally back where they belong.

Five years ago, Ms. Sadie and her son, Joe, were in one of the last groups to be evacuated from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. They made their way to Knoxville on a FEMA plane and stayed in a shelter for several days before moving to Rockwood, Tennessee to a senior apartment complex. 

Almost five years later, Ms. Sadie contacted the Roane County United Way. She had been approved for subsidized housing in New Orleans, but she did not have a way to transport herself, her son, and their belongings there.

Coincidentally, Diana Knobloch, the Executive Director of  the Roane County UW, and her husband were longtime fans of New Orleans and were planning on coming down to attend Satchmo Fest the following week.  They decided that they would offer to take Ms. Sadie and her son with them on the trip to help them with their move.

Roane County United Way had some funds available that were donated at the time of the hurricane to assist potential evacuees that might come into the community.  They had never tapped into those funds because they were never made aware of any evacuees in the county until the Butlers called.

Knobloch announced to her church their plans to help the Butlers, and several folks donated money and helped load a rented U-Haul trailer. She then contacted Steve Zimmer with United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area to ask for help unloading the trailer at the end of the move, who set her up with Volunteers of America to help Ms. Sadie move in.

Five years after Hurricane Katrina, we’re happy to know that Ms. Sadie and Joe Butler are back home to stay.

Photo Captions:
Ms. Sadie and her son Joe with Diana Knobloch and her husband.

Staff from Volunteers of America helping the Butlers move in.