AUBURN – Ariel Epstein of Auburn recently spent six months in parts of the Gulf Coast devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as part of her service with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps.

The Corps, founded by the Clinton administration in 1993, is a public service project for young adults, ages 18 to 25, to work in parts of the United States where human needs, in terms of public safety and education, are not being adequately met.

Epstein started her service with AmeriCorps one year ago, and spent six months of her 10-month service term working with a team in St. Bernard’s Parish, refurbishing homes destroyed by the hurricanes.

Working with the American Red Cross, Southeast Louisiana Chapter, Epstein visited families still living in trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and performed housing and other needs assessments to organize permanent living arrangements for the families.

FEMA has set a deadline for trailer occupants to be out of their trailers this year, but many families do not have the means to move.

This month, Epstein joined Up With People, a public service program for young adults where participants perform community service around the world and perform in high-energy musicals while on tour.

During her tour, Epstein is expected to spend five weeks in Mexico and four weeks in Thailand, and is responsible for paying her own costs.