Community Center of St. Bernard

From the Site 6/10 - OIL SPILL UPDATE:

Since 2006 the Community Center of St Bernard has been here to help St Bernard families get the assistance they need, whether it's food, clothes, medical care, legal aid, counseling, or other services. Today the residents of St Bernard Parish, who have already survived Hurricane Katrina, are facing another disaster as the Gulf Oil Spill spreads, moving ever closer to their coastline. The oil spill is threatening the fish and seafood that many St Bernard families depend on to earn their living. A commercial and recreational fishing ban is currently in effect, and fishermen are signing up for our food pantry so that they will be able to feed their families until they can find other work. The Community Center is here, ready to help them in any way we can. But we can't do it alone. Please donate now so that we can continue to provide essential services like food and clothes to families in need.

With government estimates showing that more than 800,000 gallons of crude oil are now spilling out every day, the situation is becoming increasingly desperate. The federal fishing bans now cover one-third of the Gulf Coast, and commercial fishermen and other St Bernard residents who depend on the commercial and recreational fishing industries are signing up for the Community Center's food pantry so that they will be able to feed their families until they can find other work. The demand for basic services like food, clothes, and information are all up by more than 20% for the past month, with more families needing help every day.

----------------------------------

9/5/08 LTel:

Spoke to Iray, they will be back to full operation Mon. 9/8 and are ramping up to distribute to the St. Bernard Parish community with the expecationt that the many evacuees returning will have a need to replace spoiled food and be financially challenged as a result of evacuation.

Americorps is delivering water, but he's going to assess if other hot spots need it more than they do before accepting it.

He's put in a request through the state for volunteers to assist next week with food distribution.

He asks that once Gustav efforts settle down to conference to update his facility entry in the database.

==============================================================================

Services Available from the CCSTB:
(see schedule for services at www.ccstb.org)

Free local and long-distance phone service
Free fax send and receive
Free internet access with technical assistance if needed
Wireless internet access
Distribution center for food, clothes and toiletries
Food stamp assistance (LA DSS staff visits CCSTB every week!)
"Road Home" grant application assistance
Performance space for local musicians and artists
Computer training classes
Space for neighborhood gatherings, community meetings and support groups
Satellite office space for other agencies
Laundry facilities (coming soon!)
Community suppers
Family movie nights and other family-oriented gatherings
Yoga classes
Free Legal Clinics
Free Mobile medical van stops at CCSTB weekly

=====================================

The Community Center of St. Bernard Parish is a grassroots,
nonprofit organization that is committed to creating a vital
community space for residents and volunteers who are working
together to rebuild the Parish, post-Katrina.

Socialization is key to the rebuilding of St. Bernard Parish.
Isolation is one of the most damaging effects of Katrina.
Residents need a place to come together daily, to share a
meal as well as their unbelievably surreal stories with others
who understand. It's natural and human to eat together, especially
in New Orleans where food is so much a part of the culture.
Residents need free phones and the internet to rebuild their
businesses.

They need a respectful place to feel comfortable taking donated
supplies that arrive for them from all over the world. And they
need to feel that they're contributing to the recovery process,
too. No matter how hard they hurt inside.

The Community Center of St. Bernard will offer a non-political,
non-denominational, safe and inclusive space to assist residents
in their return home, where they can gather to reconnect as they
rebuild their lives, businesses and neighborhoods.

The Community Center of St. Bernard
R.M. Iray Nabatoff
Executive Director
ccstbp@yahoo.com
504-617-2580

Donations Welcome!
The Community Center welcomes donations of canned foods, used clothing and books, personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and baby care items for free distribution to local residents through our Mustard Seed program. All items should be in good condition and food should not be opened or spoiled. For more information about making a donation, please contact Mustard Seed Distribution Manager Jason Horwitz at 504-281-2512.

The Community Center is currently seeking computers, Pentium IV or better, and flat panel monitors to upgrade the media lab, which provides free computer classes and internet access, as well as free telephone, printing, copying and faxing services.

Office needs: copier paper, Pentium IV or newer computers, flat panel monitors.

Mustard Seed needs: receipt printer (with usb connection), nonperishable food items, toiletries, cleaning products, donated or discounted forklift, and 14-16' box truck. Also clothing (good quality), toys and baby products.

There are also many hands-on volunteer opportunities available at the Community Center. To learn more, please go to www.ccstb.org/images/volunteers.pdf or phone the Community Center Office at 504-281-2512.