September 2009
Hello to everyone from New Orleans where we not only had summer again this year but, we have been privileged to experience two rare “cold fronts” before the end of August.
The bookings for housing are filling up at Good Shepherd Church so if you are going to plan a work camp, please, contact CRO early. We will make every effort to meet your needs even if Good Shepherd is booked and you must come a particular week.
Sharon will be glad to hear from you. It is great to see old friends and make new ones as well. One of the great gifts in having so many people come through the program is that we have made such Soulful Connections. There are many things going on here and that is good. If you wish to support our efforts, we would appreciate any financial donation. Or, come down and join with us as we continue to be of service in our community so damaged by Katrina.
The Good Shepherd Book and Education Project will again be helping underprivileged children secure school uniforms and necessary clothing items such as shoes, underwear, etc. We will also be supplying school supplies and other necessities as needed. Pen pals and classroom connections will be arranged for the students through their teachers if you wish to join in that effort. There continues to be great need and our efforts are always to make the path easier for each individual child.
The Lisa Mains Saley Foundation for Kids continues to create opportunities for our participants to volunteer in creative and rewarding projects. The literacy parties continue in a myriad of different ways. The entertainment is always just as important as the books and literacy message. The Lisa Foundation continues to bring artists, entertainers, creative events and field trips to schools and community organizations to enhance the lives of the kids involved. The efforts are always two fold given the circumstances…preparing the path…preventing scarring! So come and share your talents and abilities!
One such exciting event will be the partnership between the Lisa Foundation and New England College. This service-learning project will be international in scope for the college students with a focus on creating sustainability in communities. The project in New Orleans will include the students at Carver Elementary School. With the assistance of the Lisa Foundation, the Carver students are studying wetlands and the issues that affect Louisiana. They helped create the banner that will be in D. C. on September 23rd to be presented to Congress. Some Carver students will be in our state capital on the 21st to present the banner to our Governor so he can sign it too! The idea is to create awareness then advocacy. This will culminate with hands-on projects when the New England College students arrive in March. The kids at Carver can’t yet imagine…We can’t wait to show them they can!
Rev. Shantia Wright-Gray continues to be very supportive and is recruiting participants for 3 different trips again this year (www.wamsucc.org). The workcampers from MA, CT, RI, & NH will have an opportunity to work in many different venues while in New Orleans: Teacher-to-Teacher, Education Road Shows, Library work, Social Work, Tutoring, Writing Adventures, S.T.A.R. training, Rebuild Construction and u-tell-us. Still other leaders will be bringing youth groups to do Rebuilding and Community Projects. The volunteers are placed with organizations doing the type of work they desire doing while in New Orleans. Still other groups of volunteers like those from Marlborough MA create their own educational program and implement it, all the while, other volunteers do Rebuild Construction.
Rev. Jeanette Tangemann will be bringing two different groups of folks again this year and who knows what talents lie there. Jeanette is also a retired RN so she and other nurses and social workers from Ohio have worked with the Good Shepherd Health Ministry visiting with local folk. They have also worked with St Anna’s Mobile Medical Missions, the musicians’ clinic, provided relaxation, reiki and massage sessions and staged health fairs, etc. in partnership with Beecher Memorial Church and other local organizations. The Rebuilding folks with Jeanette’s group last year also built a ramp for a hospice patient and finished up a home CRO had rebuilt for Ms McGill. This was accomplished in addition to working with the St Bernard Project. Terry, Jeanette’s husband, also designed and built huge garden boxes for Carver Elementary.
So things are busy here and that is good. Let us hear from you, if you think you can participate. Contact Sharon to arrange for your housing at Good Shepherd Church. If you need help finding work assignments, we can help with that also. Just let us know ahead of time! Continue to pray for all of us as we pray with you for those we serve together! Until we meet again, Shalom.
“Better…Together”
Carolyn Mains
Director of Services
Community-Recovery-Outreach
5122 W. Esplanade Avenue
Metairie, Louisiana 70006
504-234-7608
Community-Recovery-Outreach
A Louisiana Non-Profit Organization
