The tool donation came by way of an injury Penny Phillips, 57, suffered while remodeling her 1930s home, according to an article in the October 7 edition of the Fulton Sun newspaper.

The injury to her hands required surgery that ended her renovation
plans. Doctors told her if she continued using the power tools and machinery that she had purchased for the refurbishing project, she would ruin her hands permanently, according to the article.

Phillips learned from a television program about the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina that tools were desperately needed in the reconstruction work. She went to the Diocese of Louisiana's Office of Disaster Response website and found a list of what tools were needed.

She mentioned in church the next Sunday that she wanted to take her tools down to New Orleans, and asked if anyone had any to offer, the article said. She gathered about $5,000 worth of tools, some of them purchased simply to donate.

Within a week, Phillips told the newspaper, the congregation had assembled carpentry tools, painting supplies, crowbars, wrecking bars, air hoses, air compressors and a dozen Bibles.

"The tools were for the rebuilding, and the Bibles were to help them keep the faith," she told the paper.

Rather than pay to ship the tools to New Orleans, Phillips decided to deliver them herself. The three-day trip included a flat tire and a 130-mile detour via tow truck to fix a broken oil pan and the car's air conditioning.

Phillips arrived in New Orleans during the recent House of Bishops meeting and attended the ecumenical service during which the bishops contributed more than $1 million from their dioceses to help the residents of Louisiana and Mississippi.

During the Day of Service on September 22, Phillips told the newspaper that she helped dole out the tools, and had the opportunity to talk with several of the Episcopal Church bishops who took a break from their meetings to help in reconstruction efforts.

"It was so wonderful, watching the homeowners and bishops working
side-by-side," she told the newspaper.