P.O. Box 24378 New Orleans, LA 70184 504.324.2270
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2008
New Orleans’ Lake Area Organizations Form Collaborative Effort to Help Iowa Flood Victims
New Orleans, LA (June 27, 2008) – A collaboration has been formed among Beacon of Hope Resource Center, Lakeview Civic Improvement Association (LCIA) and the Episcopal Diocese Office of Disaster Response to aid the flood victims in Iowa. Each of these organizations has been instrumental in the revival of the New Orleans’ Lake Area, the part of the City destroyed by the break of the 17th Street Canal levee. St. Paul’s Homecoming Center/Beacon of Hope Site Coordinator Connie Uddo, LCIA’s President Al Petrie, and Beacon of Hope’s President and Founder Denise Thornton will be sidestepping their own community’s recovery, and reaching out to their neighbors in crisis in the Midwest. On July 13, they will be bringing much needed assistance to the flood ravaged area of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Connie Uddo said “Although we are still on the front lines of our own recovery, after almost three years, we feel that we have a great deal to offer the people of the Midwest in terms of navigating the tumultuous waters in reconstructing their lives, businesses and communities.”
The Beacon of Hope was founded on February 14, 2006 as a grass roots organization to guide residents through the complex process of recovery. Denise Thornton commented, “We have been successful in creating a model that is transportable to any city in America that is facing a disaster. We have learned so much from our own recovery. We believe this information will be essential to Cedar Rapid’s rebirth long after we’re gone.” says Thornton.
The delegation from New Orleans will hold an Information Fair at the distribution center in Cedar Rapids on July 14th and 15th. Topics will include: Contractor Fraud, Volunteer Coordination, Neighborhood Organization, Data Collection, Insurance Processes and Mold Remediation, to name just a few.
Gift cards which have been donated by the generous citizens of New Orleans for the purchase of needed essentials such as food, clothing and building materials will be distributed to affected families.
Al Petrie added “Through the support of the New Orleans City Council and the New Orleans Police Department, we will help to facilitate a network of communication between emerging community recovery leaders in Cedar Rapids and their local government leaders. We hope to share with them the success we have had in uniting our Lake Area community and how they can work with City government to lead their recovery effort.”
Stephanie Uddo, 18, will establish a Youth Recovery Program modeled after the Youth Rebuilding New Orleans Group that was founded in 2006. Please see their work at www.yrno.com
Chef Mark Uddo will prepare a community dinner, New Orleans style and will be providing refreshments during the day at the Informational Fair. “It is important that the people of Iowa know that we’ve been in their shoes and we care about them.” said Mark. “We know from experience how comforting the generosity of strangers can be to their personal recovery.”
A fundraising campaign was initiated on June 23rd to solicit donations to purchase gift cards that will be distributed during the visit to Iowa. On-line donations can be made through the website: www.lakewoodbeacon.org using PayPal or Just Give. Please make checks payable to Beacon of Hope and indicate in the memo “Iowa Relief”. Checks can be dropped off or mailed to: 6268 Vicksburg Street, New Orleans, LA 70124 or 145 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Ste. 210, New Orleans, LA 70124. All donations are tax deductible as we are a qualified 501(c)3.
Contact:
Al Petrie Denise Thornton
Connie Uddo
504.258-9548
504.247-5900 504.415-8434
al@alpetrie.com
denise@lakewoodbeacon.org
uddo2911@hotmail.com