An Update on Heartfelt's New Orleans Back to School Service Project
by Patti Rayner

Dear Heartfelt Family,

Thank you to so many of you for the countless ways your support for the New Orleans Back to School service project has manifested. The project is well underway and as with most Heartfelt service projects, has greatly expanded from its original plan.

On August 3, there will be a distribution of 1000 backpacks filled with school supplies for the children at the Renaissance Trailer Park in Baton Rouge. Renaissance was set up for New Orleans evacuees from Katrina. The people there are among the poorest, as the poverty level housing they used to inhabit in New Orleans has now been bulldozed or scheduled to be, and they have nowhere to return to. It is likely, I'm told, that they'll be living in these trailers for the rest of their lives.

Our project has created such a happy stir in this depressed community that many local vendors, businesses, agencies and churches are offering live music, activities, food, health check ups for the children, and are making a true service project out of our distribution day - on their own!

On August 5, in New Orleans, we will hold an even larger service project, party and filled backpack distribution, as well as certificates for each child to receive a school uniform. We are planning for 1500-2000 of the city's most in-need children, but will probably have many more. (Loaves and fishes, God!) The project will be held in City Park and perhaps the joy and fun we create there will expand throughout the entire city and fill each heart and life. (I was told yesterday that the current suicide rate in the city among 30-40 year olds is astounding).

This project is also creating excitement and gratitude in the community, as this letter from an agency working with the most deprived children, attests:

Greetings, Patti!

We can't thank you enough!! I have been in touch with most of the program directors, and they are really excited. Our families that are in aftercare (meaning they have moved out of a homeless shelter and are receiving follow-up visits to make sure they are managing with food and bills) are truly grateful. Our many foster children are also excited about such a wonderful party in a city that has lost much of its laughter.

Each year this time we usually do school supply drives locally to help the many needy children/families in the area. This year, many of our donors are either relocated and not returning, or in desperate need themselves. Your generosity is a true gift to our children, and we sincerely thank you.

Peace,

Susan S. Lackey
Volunteer Services
Catholic Charities of New Orleans

We are working to recruit volunteers from the local community, and pray we'll be successful. Donations of goods or services locally are almost non-existent as so much has been lost by so many. But we have found a few local businesses that are gratefully working with us and attempting to make our journey easier and support our efforts for their kids. The New Orleans Sheraton Hotel is giving free lodging to all of our traveling team! Coca Cola is providing drinks for 900 people, at our event. Smaller local vendors are stretching and giving us discounts and/or small donations of their product. Amazing donations of mileage, money and goods have come in from all parts. Thanks to all! Very special thanks to the Good Works Foundation and John Morton and Laura Donnelley-Morton, Nicholas Brown, Ron Bernstein, Pam Douglas, the Downs Family, the Sanford Corporation, Marcy Hilecher, and Kathryn Bernstein, for your marvelous support and assistance!

Lastly, I want to give you the names of our hardy team, so that you can hold each one of us in your loving Light, thoughts and prayers during this journey from August 2-6. It's sweltering hot, it's hurricane season, it's a few weeks away from the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and there are thunderstorms daily! These wonderful people care so much about the children of New Orleans, they don't care about the challenges:

Heide Banks, Lawrence Caminite, Alexandra Crenna De Furio, Anthony Cube, Jessica Dulay, Reshaun Frear, Kathy Grant, Michael Hubbard, Jane Miller, Howard Lazar, Sonia Trejo, Michael Wolfe, and me. The home support team is: Neal Cohen, Karen Cicero, Steve Shepherd...and of course, all of you! Thank you. Bless you!

In loving service,
Patti

For more information about the Heartfelt Foundation, visit their website at www.heartfelt.org .




Click on the titles below to read the full story:

An Update on Heartfelt's New Orleans Back to School Service Project

A Joyful Sharing from a Heartfelt Mexico Service Project

Heartfelt Celebrates 30 Years of Heartfelt Service

The Spirit of Christ-mass Present

Heartfelt Christmas Projects in Mexico City, Mexico and Itatiba, Brazil

A Real Heartfelt Belly Laugh at the Heartfelt Foundation’s Fundraiser at the Comedy Store

Heartfelt's Thanksgiving Projects, 2007

A Successful Heartfelt New Orleans Back to School Service Project

A Soldier's Thank You

Heartfelt's Christmas Service Projects, 2007

News from Heartfelt in Mexico City

A Message from Patti Rayner of the Heartfelt Foundation

Heartfelt Foundation Receives Service Award

Gratitude and Celebration, June 2003