A wonderful story. Any family that is in this country legally, and is willing to work, as this mother and father are, deserves all the help they can get. Jose and Maria, I hope you find your dream, and I'm sure you will make it happen.

I truly hope that they find a good life for the whole family.

Why should a feature story be about someone who came to Waveland looking for work. What about all those in Waveland and BSL who lost their jobs and homes to the storm. I may sound heartless but so many are in need down there. What about opportunity for them. Some still livng in tents, waiting for trailers. Are these people even citizens of this great country?

I live here on the coast of Mississippi, daily I see the misery that our people are going through. This family hurts also, isn't there enough love to go around to others? If you have any love to spare then consider giving whatever you can to the animal shelter in Waveland. Before the storm I had the opportunity to stay with a good friend that was involved with the Friends of the Animal Shelter in Hancock County. They were one of the best group of people that did a great job of helping unwanted animals that I have ever come across. Now I have heard that the conditions are horrible, everything they did to make this somthing to be proud of in making things better for companion animals is destroyed. Like I said, there should be enough love and concern to reach out to all in need.

I am sure there is residents in this area who are in much more need than these people. The hispanics invading the region and lowering wages for the local residents is a real issue. I have been told the wages are so low now that many NO residnets do not want to return and I do not blame them. When does the Federal Govt have the guts to take action on immigration and focus on those who are citizens and need these jobs in the area with a liveable wage. What a sham

Good going, only in America can a hard working man and woman find an opportunity in the midst of the rumble of a natural disaster. Since I live in Southern California I know that the Hispanic population is the backbone of the working industry. I hope that this family finds their hopes and dreams in America.

I TRULY HOPE THAT YOU FIND GOOD LIFE FOR YOUR FAMILY

Peggy, it's a vicious circle. Jose up there is looking for people to pay him. The people down in the effected area are looking for their gov. or fema or insurance company to give assistance. You'd think after paying premiums and taxes as long as these people did it would return vin aid. Not so. I hope everything turns out alright w/Jose. But even more wish that Katrina never happend. Your going to need those workers down there Peggy (legal or not so legal, they will go to where the work is). For a steady pay check, they will work very hard. Too bad they couldn't stay longer. The extra pair of hands help. If your in Waveland, good luck to you and yours.

Going to the coast "with hopes of cashing in on the Katrina work boom..." I'm not sure how I feel about that; I mean, so many people that live there still need help and this agency took care of this family before the locals? I don't agree with that at all; if they went to the coast on their own, let them leave on their own.

My God,another story to feel sorry for all of these people who should not even be here.Lets worry about our own people tahat are homeless and have not found work.All those people he subs out will not even pay any taxe's anyway,as well as himself.Lets just get ready to pick up all his health bills and the people he won;t even pay for their services.Wake up America!

I agree with Peggy and don't want to sound heartless as well. It is hard enough on us to provide for victims of the storm, much less to provide for immigrants. God help us all.

I AGREE WITH PEGGY DUGAN....ALL AMERICANS ARE HERE LEGALLY...THEY SHOULD HAVE FIRST DIBS ON EVERYTHING AND EVERY JOB.

This is really sad and I pray for the victims everyday.

I think that this is a great story and I wish the Familia Martinez a Blessed Christmas. I also wish all who have suffered from Katrina a Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year, my thoughts and Prayers are with you all. God Bless!

Mr.Martinez is finding what a lot of old hurricane vets know. No full time money from constction till the insurance settlement. Which don't come through til 2-3 years from now or the Fema does something which is like that $85 he got,too little. No one should rush in after A Hurricane ,but they do and becxome vics. Jesus can't make them understand no 'BIG' payoff in Diasters,None. Some last 30 years later they come sort of,that one thing CNN,MSNBC don't see or tell those Hurricane diasters last 30 years still people recovering from the cane in '64 or '84 in Texas or Missippi. I was in Hempstead.Fla. I found people still homeless three years after the hurricane. They were,under the radar, something people with computers don't understand. Thirteen people living in a alley,using a bowling alley for restroom,living in tent in a swamp,next to the canal,by the highway that they panhandle at. So, it is good to the New Victims of Hurricane Katrina,Allen ,Rita,Beulah,or whatever.

Well let me tell Peggy and those that follow her train of though, you are heartless. Remember one thing that these are people we are talking about so let also remember that the same attitude existed throughout the history of this country and the mentality of seeing others that are not like them as lower forms of human beings. My heart actually goes out to those people that think like Peggy, then the immigrants that have come to contribute to this country. Take care and may your heart find some warmth during this this season, and throughout the year.

Thank you MSNBC - As New Orleans and other areas hit by these natural disasters show how they are really struggling to try to survive, and the kind of organization needed to stay there to document and employ people where they are needed down there is staggering, if not overwhelming.

The only hope they / we have in any real sustained recovery is thru donations of our time and money sent down by those who wish to help - "those less fortunate than themselves."

Stephen Rene
www.ParentsWhoCare.us
www.eBusinessProfessionals.us
"Together We can & are Making a Difference"

I feel that if this family had a home and a job in Houston they should have stayed here. They should not be taking help that others need so desperately in that region. There are also families still in Texas waiting for homes, jobs and trailers after Katrina.
We only hope and pray that those people dont have too spend Christmas in tents because their homes were destroyed and FEMA isnt doing enough.

I am embarrased that in this season of giving that some people have such a hard time with helping others. Good for the Martinez family for trying to improve their lives. I bet they weren't doing that great where they were before if their entire life fit in a minivan! They were probably like so many other americans who fall under the radar and are just trying to get by. This is just a way to pay it forward in my opinion. I'm sure that most of our ancestors when they got here were given a helping hand at some point and were grateful for it. It is a shame that we all rely on our government to do it and not do it ourselves. I say think about how much money you are spending this holiday on presents and how many meals that could provide for others.

Why should we condemn them for having the luck to have received assistance. Obviously these people had fortitude as it was noticed by individuals at the Loudoun Foundation. The foundation felt that with some small assistance this family could truly have a better life. At least they had the courage to try and make a living in a new unfamiliar place. I wish them well.

What a crock,Its veruy easy for you to say this from the comfort of where you are and I do suspect a number of the so called positive responses to this trash story are of Anglo descent. You guys don’t care about the people who are really affected by this tragedy "African Americans". Oh yeah its cool to have that good feeling you get, when you here a story about a dumb dog found and returned, or about illegals taking American jobs katrina or not. It just baffles me where the focus is, and a s I say before YOUguys YOU know who you are couldn't give a Darn what happens to the African Americans, its just great that Hispanics can come in and find work.Please.

This story shows that it is not only residents of the Gulf Coast that were affected by Katrina, but people country wide have felt repercussions from the storm. With so many evacuees spread out over much of the US, jobs must be hard to get. In the rush to send aid to the storm's victims we have forgotten those who were not affected by Katrina, but still need our aid. God bless Jose and Maria, and to all affected by Katrina.

I can see why people are angered over this story. While the U.S. is always trying to help people out with the "land of the free" motto and opening doors...we are giving away the U.S. piece by piece. We should help our own legalized people first. And we should help those people who lived in the zones affected by the hurricane before we help this people that come to the area just to make a buck off of someone else's woes. It seems we have all these organizations helping the Hispanics and their "rights cause" left and right, but Americans need to learn to take care of their own legal citizens and quite handing away freebies to people that do not pay taxes or contribute to the government in any other way but to deplete the resources of the government, ie: police and fire protective, free health care, and the list does go on and on. Help Katrina victims FIRST and foremost!!! They didn't have the choices these Hispanics had and they certainly are not getting the help the Hispanic family has gotten. It is appalling!!

Peggy and Jeff, I suppose your ancestors were Native Americans? If not, than you "Shouldn't be here" either. We're all immigrants who were chasing the American Dream, and it just so happens that NOW it's the Hispanic's turn to be vilified just as the Irish, Italians and Polish were. The article said he has a Green Card, so he is legally here. In this day and age I say "Bravo" to anyone who doesn't EXPECT a hand out and is willing to WORK for a better future, no matter how dirty the job. Don't cast a sideways glance at this man for someone recognizing his WILLINGNESS to work and taking him up on it. In case you haven't noticed, this IS America. The land of opportunity for ANYONE willing to work for it. God bless you and your family Jose Luis; God bless the victims of this terrible disaster, and God bless the U.S.A.

I'm probably going to be lambasted for this, but ... I'm sorry, but I'm right in the middle of the Katrina mess, living in a FEMA trailer and half-ruined house, trying to get out lives back together. And, by golly, any work that will be done to my home will be done by locals who also lost everything! "Cashing in on Katrina"????? The only people who should be "cashing in on Katrina" are the ones that were affected by Katrina! Now, if Mr. Martinez had been hired by locals to work for them and had come prepared for the conditions of the area (tents, camping equipment, etc.), that would be a different story, but for someone to come to this area, where we still have LOCALS living in tents (including elderly, handicapped, and pregnant women) looking to make a buck just ticks me off! And I would feel the same way if his name was Chang, Magadawa, or Smith! No one should be coming to this area unprepared and unable to care for themselves. If Mr. Martinez and others like him want to "cash in on Katrina", the least they could do is wait until the area is more stable and able to provide for such an influx, but until then, please just stay away. Six or eight months from now, maybe we can afford such workers, but not now.

i hope all works out for that family, but what about those who live in new orleans, or other areas that were directly destroyed by "katrina" or "rita". is there anything wrong with taking care of our own first and then if possible help others? i have lost everthing that i have ever had, family, animals and any small items that would link me to my past. i doubt that most people will return to new orleans, st.bernard parish, metairie, la. or other areas not of interest to other people. what is there to return to, no residence, no apartments, no jobs, why would they return. this is my home, but for whatever reason, everything has changed. god has reasons for this and other natural disasters, maybe we need to listen to his message. we are living with our head in the sand, god in coming and we need to listen....

This country is full of needs, both locals and "illegals" alike. Our cities are full of homeless people year in an year out. We have our "own" people milking the system for benefits that should go to others. Let them enjoy their blessing. Perhaps they'll be blessed enough to pay it forward... as we all should.

Peggy Dugan and "George businessman" who doesn't even heave the balls to leave his name should think about the fact that this family had the courage to pack up and move to a hard hit area and try to find work and a life for his family. Why slight him for that when most of the people aren't willing to find a job and get back on their feet themselves? Most every one wants FEMA to pay them rental money every month. I say "get a job" they say "there is no work here." I say "relocate!" And this is what this family did. I welcome them to VA! I say Kudos for dusting them selves off and keep on trying!

I think that this story is a sad but also good this to let us know. The reason why i think that this is a good this is that it lets know how they have to live even 4 months after the tragedy. I have family in the mississippi coast and I know what its like from what i have heard. So any ways I haope that all the people down there will end up good. And that people all around the U.S. are still thinking of them.

I live in the Katrina damaged area of Mississippi and feel blessed by the hispanics who have come here to work and get us back on our feet. These folks work hard and do an excellent job. I have heard nothing but praise for their work ethic. These people don't want a hand out just an opportunity. Thank you to all these men and women for their efforts and sacrifices.

After months of wondering and worrying, I finally got a call from my ex-mother-in-law Friday, and her and my ex-husband (my daughter's Dad and Grandmother) are fine. She is in Biloxi, and she said things are bad there. There are people still living in regular tents (not the FEMA tents). She does not have a job because the place she worked at is gone. She finally got back in her apartment on the 2nd floor, the 1st floor was messed up from the surge. She has gone through her savings and does not know what is going to happen. I hope someone offers THEM a chance.

I agree with most of the comments , Jose should not have taken is family into the area and than to expect help is not nice. Please help the poor people in the area that have gone through so much.

My coment is for all of you negetive people. If you read the story you will find that none of your tax dollars went to this family. The Loudoun Found. is a private group that raises money from events and contributions from the private industry. There is a big difference between opportunity and welfare. PLease learn the terms. The Martinez family was given opportunity not tax dollars(welfare). Would you, heartless people, be so negative if their last names were Kennedy or Smith. Some of those hurricane victoms are waiting for one lump-some (tax dollars) handout that will make their net worth more than they ever had. My opinion, the residents that lost their homes need to move to higher grounds, north, and start over. I am tired of paying high insurance and taxes becuase of their stubborness to relocate!!

While I feel for a man who is trying to give his family something better, it seems as though many people are seeing an opportunity and taking advantage of help that should be given elsewhere. They had a happy ending, and that's great and all, but come on...we need to be concentrating on the CITIZENS who need help. Amazing how immigrants (legal or otherwise) can walk into a clinic and get all the medical care that they need, while my family, who has lived and worked in the US our entire lives, can't even get a band-aid. I would be paying off that medical bill for the ear infections for the next 10 years. Even worse, I know that my situation is extemely common!

I cant belive how we as Americans put other people from other Countrys down.im so sure that the wages are going down, it would go down without them. Most of us go 2 school,have good paying jobs, and go to lunch and complain about others. when hard working illigals are the ones picken the tomatos & letuce for the hamburger your eating for lunch. To all the Haters out there quit hating because illigal or not we as Hispanics,Latinos, Chicanos WERE COMING UP IN THE U.S and all haters are going 2 do is hate.and the Martinez family "Que todos sus sienos se agan realidad. Luchen y agan lo que puedan para salir adelante en un paise que nomas los qieren ver en el piso"

It is a sad situation for anyone to have to go through what these victims of Katrina are going through but what is even sadder is that the victims have to sit back and watch while people that are not even from this country let alone citizens take what few jobs there are. Is the Martinez family the only family suffering here? I don't think so. Help our own citizens first. Also wake up America why is it always so easy to help people that are not of this country and not help our own. Look around you. I sure can think of alot of victims who are willing to do the work and get the pay. Lady help our own and let alians fend for themselves. This story only served to anger me. I am sorry I may sound heartless but am tired of all the help I hear that is going to other countries and immigrants when there are people starving in LA and Miss. and all over America. As I can see there are a number of people who think as I do. I to went through Hurrican Andrew and didn't receive any assistance. We lost everything and had to start over again with no help from anyone including the government or insurance, which by the way was cancelled the day after the hurricane. We were considered high risk so lost our house and everything we worked 20 years to have. Some people have still not bounced back from it. Mr. Martinez and family I am sorry but America is tapped out.

Dear American Citizens: Unless you are a "native American Indian", you have no right to judge Jose and deny him the right to pursue the American dream. Your ancestors came to this country as immigrants as well. Jose is a legal immigrant, since he has a green card. He is obligated to pay taxes like any other citizen or legal resident, and if he subcontracts work out, he's responsible to employ legal workers that pay taxes as well. I find it extremely hypocritical to tell Jose to go back to where he came from, if you are not leaving this fine country yourselves and go back to where you (or your ancestors) came from!

i have some compassion for jose and his family,but what about the locals who still have not recieved any help.is it fair to them for outsiders to come seeking help and work to be given same by any charity.

Okay, its great Jose had a green card & he & his family got lucky to be sponsored by an out of state outfit to begin a new life. He sounds like a good, responsible man & I wish him & his luck. But when it comes to the aftermath of a major hurricane (I'm a survivor of several including Camille, Frederic, & lately Ivan the Terrible) waiting for the feds to help you out isn't always the best thing to do. I know the people on the Coast & they help their neighbors & themselves as best they can & do a great job in such adverse situations that you can't imagine. Like, how many of you have lived under martial law with curfews & the national guard (thank God) patroling the streets & rescuing folks? No power, no clean drinking water, etc. ? The people on the coast (some of them my relatives & friends) are great folks doing the best they can to survive this & they will. Another thing, many of the families here are descendants of, yes Native Americans, and the original French & Spanish colonists who came here in the 1600 & 1700 hundreds. This land has been in some families for many generations. You just don't up & leave that kind of land that holds the bones of your ancestors & which was watered with the sweat & blood of those hardy people. If a people all leave an area, for example in New Orleans & are scattered about & don't return, the children & grandchildren on down will lose their history & sense of community, become displaced. Coming back for a visit now & again will never replace that belonging & connectivity, there will always be a sense of loss. So we stay in places like Waveland, Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, & Biloxi & rebuild.

i feel for all on the coast...but maybe Jose shouldn't have brought the whole family until he went and made shure of the work and found housing...tradesmen from my area went{didn't take thier famliy} and were back shortly...because monies and material weren't there

I just want to quote William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, on what he supposedly said in a Christmas telegram to his fellow Salvation Army followers "Others!"
I don't care who is in need and what they do to try and help fix themselves, where they came from or their story, if there is a need, we all need to have compassion and help our fellow human, whether by prayer, donation or physical help. Well said Tina; we all come from people who once did all they could to get into this country and seek a better life, and I'm thankful there was a land to come to and pursue a wonderful life. We can't fix our government or what is wrong in this country or the world overnight, but today we can extend our hand and offer help to those in need. Anyone in need. If everyone really did love everybody and help everybody they can we would not need to argue about who should get help and who shouldn't. The major wrong I see being committed is telling Jose and his family to get out, but we stay. What makes us "natural born Americans" so special? We should be apologizing everyday for the atrocious sins of our forefathers for what was done to the Native American Indian. Land was robbed, people killed off and forced to live a new life in horrid conditions and some have the nerve to tell a family seeking a better life to "go back where they came from"? Please just forget all prejudices and help someone if you can.

Why is it that everytime a hispanic get help people feel that they are taking something that belongs to american? First of all if Jose and all the other hispanic didnt move to find jobs that pay the minimun salary to make a living this country would be what it is now. I admire every hispanic for doing what they can to better them selfs. And all of the people that were affected by the hurricanes i am sorry but just like jose you can start by working labor jobs to get your life back to normal and stop wanting help from everyone else.

ok, im native american.
thanks for being a champion to my cause tina jackson.
Go home jose.
or at least dont goes to a stricken area and expect aid. the entire idea is that there are enough people who really need the aid already there!

Just when I think what a wonderful bunch of giving and selfless souls are living in this country, I read hypocritical posts like the ones attached to this story. Here is a man who is willing to work to support his family and give his children a better chance at not having to struggle like he is and he is criticized for it because he is an immigrant? His family is not in this country illegally, he's gone through the system and obtained a green card, so why shouldn't he be given a chance? He made a bad decision in leaving his home to find work after Katrina, but should he and his family be condemned for it forever?

This article is not about after Katrina recovery.It is missing a point. We like to know more about how things are developing there. I can do better report if I can go there but motels are filled with construction workers at least 6 monts.

Thank you Jennifer, you said it better than I could. While many are waiting for hand outs, he cleaned off a corner in the mess and went to work. Hey FEMA! Where's my trailer???

OK,Fine! He made a mistake by moving his family , but that is NOT a reason to punish his kids and his wife and at least he is NOT trying to get FEMA's monies like MANY OTHERS that DID NOT suffer damages and are not entitled to it, he IS an AMERICAN and just because he also happen to be hispanic does not mean he is a low life worthless piece of ACT, maybe the media also made a mistake by saying that he moved his family in pursuit of the American Dream, may he moved to find a "decent" job and be able to feed his family. Please everyone, just have a heart.I pray that they find their dream job and their kids flourish and grow in GOD.

I don't care if these people are black, brown or what they need to use common sense. We have enough problems in those areas without people like Jose adding to it. Thanks for your comments JB. There are enough people down there who were on welfare who can use this as an opportunity to get back to work if they want to, , , Help our citizens first, they deserve it more, that's all we need are a bunch of bleeding hearts trying to look "politically correct" in this and other issues. If you are not here legally, go home. Our government has turned a blind eye long enough. Illegals GO HOME.

As a native North American Indian, I say good luck to these people who are as close to being Native American as anyone and certainly AS American as 99% of Americans. Thanks to all those who feel that if you're willing to work America will find a home for you and I truly wish the best for the Martinez family. Too many times people forget that before the white man drew border lines across North America, people who are called Hispanic today were really Native North American - a line on a map will never change that no matter how red somebody's neck is. Good luck to all people affected by the South coast disasters and somehow I hope you can all have a decent Christmas. My heart is with all you.

I was not affected by the hurricane and fortunately nobody in my family was either. So, I don't KNOW how they feel, or how they are coping with this tragedy, but I do KNOW that some of the people affected by this storm, are sitting on their butts waiting for a handout from the government. If you get an education, find a job, and live within your means, you won't be SOLELY depending on the Government. Jose and his family went to look for work that many of us wouldn't dream of doing. Get of his back and get up off your butts and rebuild your communities!!!!

There are people who complain about people from Mexico or Southern area coming here to the United States to take over work. THEY WANT TO WORK!!! ARE WE MISSING THE POINT! There are people here who are here natural born citizens who do take advantage of FREE BEE's. Don't degrade these people who want to make a BETTER life for them selves and their families. If they could stay in their own homeland and make a life I am sure they would stay. NONE of you can not say that you would not travel to another country to make it. Until you have been in these people shoes you have nothing to say. These people sacrifice what ever they have to in order to survive.
DOES ANYONE SEE THAT!

i never expected to read something negative from a fellow native american on here. JB you should know better what our people went though nearly a century ago.

JUST REMEMBER THAT PART OF U.S.A WAS MEXICO SO EVEN AMERICAN ARE MIGRANT HERE.JUST REMEMBER GOD OWNS EVERTHING.

Don't get mad at Jose instead get mad at your President who is not doing enough for you. George Bush does not have any problems spending billions in Iraq everyday but he does not care that there is 8000 Americans still missing in Katrina's wake. Wake up America.

It is very easy for me sit in my comfortable office and make comments on this situation. I am not Hispanic and I've not been to any of the hurricane damaged areas, but I am a Catholic who was brought up to respect others and to believe in helping others. My feelings are that too many people now worship the all mighty dollar. The biggest culprites are the insurance companies who take in billions and drop you the first chance they get. I hpoe this family makes out all right, but I do believe we must insure the that the locals get back on their feet as soon as possible.

Man o man. It looks like Northern cities empty out and South swells, Expeciall FL and NC. It looks like South is starting to read more than North. I live in Charlote NC and seeing 40% of houses bought up by NYkers makes me wander why they all run down south. I lived in NY and know that I have seen no people there from Charlote! Dah---

I do not think the argument concerns whether the couple are hispanic, white, black, or nuxed, What I learned firsthand as a volunteer for Katrina victims is that evacuees are hoping that they will be given priority when conctruction jobs are awarded. Several of the expressed concern that outsiders would get construction jobs first. The couple needs money, so, naturally, they moved to an area that needs rebuilding. As honorable as their intentions were, they drained money from resources that are needed to help hurricane victims.