At the beginning of the month, we
start with two write-ups that tell you something about who we are at the
Christian Brothers Volunteer Community in New Orleans.
JASPERS and GAELS
The first is from Ben Boivin, an
Admissions and Financial Aide Counselor at Manhattan College, the home of the “Jaspers”. Himself a 2009 graduate of Manhattan College,
this was his second time heading a team of 11 students in a Lasallian group
doing service in New Orleans. They came
to us Friday evening at the end of their time in NOLA to have a meal and meet
our long-term volunteers [all Iona “Gaels”] and reflect on their experience of
Christian service in New Orleans. [See
the previous blog post.]
Br. John
For the second year in a row, my visit to NOLA has been the most
powerful experience of my life. On the
flight home I thought about our reflection on Friday night. It is difficult to get 11 college students
together on any given Friday night, but that particular evening was maybe the
best one they will have in their college career. Our group was buzzing with excitement and
energy and that is due to you Brothers and the incredible volunteers. I am so glad that through Marita Keane, we
were able to share thoughts and emotions once again. Your hospitality means a lot to the Jaspers.
Blue skies,
Ben Boivin
The dinner and evening reflections
were coordinated by Travis Wain supported by Erika Enlund and Lauren
Zanfardino.
GOLD STAR
Travis Wain, Iona ‘12, worked on
construction projects last year at Helping Hands which rebuilds homes for the
poor and those on the margins of society. This year, his second as an Americorps volunteer, he heads up a team of
four recently homeless who run a center providing showers, laundry and other services
to needy folks. The program is a joint
venture of the City of New Orleans and the Veteran’s Administration which
contracts with the non-profit Harry Tompson Center to run the program. Travis, who is with the Harry Tompson Center,
initiated and now coordinates this new multi-agency program that, in January
served 455 people, including 173 who did laundry but did not shower, 87 who
only showered, and 195 who availed of both services.
Following is what appeared in the agency’s internal communication recently.
“Our Gold Star this week goes to Travis Wain! Travis is the Community Resource and Referral
site coordinator for the Harry Tompson Center, one of the primary community
partners supporting the CRRC mission. He
is directly responsible for overseeing the laundry service and shower
programs. He heads an outstanding
four-person team, also from the Harry Tompson Center in operating these
essential quality of life programs. In
addition to managing these programs, Travis has volunteered to run our clothing
distribution program, which provides donated clothing to those in need, and to
help with the food service program that is sponsored by key community partner
Ozanam Inn.
When the CRCC opened on October 1, all of these programs were new and
required a considerable amount of operational and logistical fine tuning. From day one, Travis exhibited exceptional
initiative in getting these programs running efficiently as soon as possible. Within a week, Travis and his team had
established the processes now in place that ensure each of these highly
utilized programs run smoothly.
[Note: In its first month the Center did 276 loads
of laundry and provided 231 showers. In
January the Center did 835 laundry loads, provided 949 showers and distributed
532 hygiene kits.]
Travis and his team play a vital role in the success of the CRCC, and
the relationship between the Veterans Administration and Harry Tompson is
exactly what we envisioned when we built the CRCC. Our vision was to synergize our efforts with
those of strong local community partners to provide the best care and service
possible to the homeless citizens of New Orleans.”
Travis graduated from Notre
Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School where he and his family were very close to Br.
Joe Fragala, a founding member of this Volunteer Community. At Iona he majored in Marketing.
VOCATION/FORMATION
Rob Droel, an Iona graduate who
is at Catholic Theological in Chicago, is currently a non-residential candidate
for the Congregation of Christian Brothers and came at the invitation of the
community to experience our mission and ministry. He arrived, on a delayed flight late on
Saturday, February 1 and we introduced him to New Orleans culture with dinner
at Ignatius, a favorite eatery on Magazine Street. Sunday he attended Mass with Br. Bob and Br.
Charles at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in Pontchartrain Park and got a
walk in with Br. John in the afternoon.
Sunday evening he spent some time at a gathering here at the house hosted
by the volunteers for other volunteers in New Orleans. On Monday, he spent the day with Br. Charles
and on Tuesday spent some time with Br. Bob.
SUPER BOWL
All work and no play is not good,
so. . .
Erika Enlund coordinated a
gathering at the house on Super Bowl Sunday.
She handled all the arrangements and much of the cooking for the 30 or
so guests who gathered in the Map Room on the first floor, some of whom even
watched the game on the TV. Guests also
brought refreshments, solid and liquid.
Rumor has it that there was one Seahawk fan, a native of Seattle, among
the guests—Erika informed us the young lady rejoiced—silently—in this town
that, being Saints country, cheered for the Broncos.
FOR REFLECTION
“The proclamation of the Gospel is destined primarily to the poor, to
those who often lack the essentials for a decent life. The good news is first
announced to them, that God loves them before all others and comes to visit
them through the acts of charity that the disciples of Christ carry out in his
name.”
Pope Francis:
Address to the Ecclesial Convention of the Diocese of Rome, [6/17/13]
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