< Back to Oral History project: COVID-19 Project
ORAL HISTORY
Devin DeWulf
Krewe of Red Beans
Devin DeWulf grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. He attended College of Charleston and studied Latin American history, eventually moving to Brazil and Mexico. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, DeWulf visited the city to volunteer in relief efforts. In 2007, DeWulf moved to New Orleans and became a middle school teacher. DeWulf organized a parade in in his Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans in 2009 during Carnival season. The parade became the Krewe of Red Beans, and it became a yearly event in the Marigny and Tremé neighborhoods. The Krewe welcomes everyone and looks for opportunities to serve New Orleanians.
When the Pandemic hit in early March, DeWulf’s wife worked as an ER doctor in New Orleans. The uncertainty of the virus added to the her and her colleagues’. DeWulf noticed that food gave his wife and other healthcare professionals something to look forward to during difficult, lengthy shifts. At the beginning, he and his wife bought and delivered $60 worth of food to doctors. They started a Feed the Frontlines hashtag on social media. Through Krewe member donations and social media donations, the Krewe of Red Beans continued to raise funds that paid local restaurants to make food for frontline healthcare workers. They hired musicians to deliver the food. Through a million dollars in donations, the Krewe of Red Beans were able to help 49 businesses in New Orleans during 2020.
