In the Spirit of Giving Tuesday… St. Paul’s Homecoming Center is asking the Community to “Give $100 of Hope to a Braithwaite, La. or East Coast Family” this Holiday Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Connie Uddo
Director
(504) 415-8434-c / (504) 644-4125-o
awills@keatingmagee.com

Ann Wills
Keating Magee
504-494-3810-ccuddo@stpauls.org                                                

In the Spirit of Giving Tuesday...
St. Paul's Homecoming Center is asking the Community to"Give $100 of Hope to a Braithwaite, La. or East Coast Family" this Holiday Season

NEW ORLEANS (November 27, 2012)  - In the spirit of Giving Tuesday,  St. Paul's Homecoming Center (SPHC), a non-profit organization established post-Katrina to help New Orleans residents return and rebuild their lives,  is  seeking to help the hundreds of Braithwaite residents whose lives continue to be impacted by Hurricane Isaac, as well as thousands more on the East Coast facing the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

St Paul's Homecoming Center is asking people across our area to consider donating $100, or about the cost of one night out at a nice restaurant, to help their fellow citizens both near and far rebuild their lives.  "While $100 can't meet all their needs, it is a meaningful gesture that gives a family hope," says Connie Uddo, Director of the St. Paul's Homecoming Center.

"We still have a waiting list of 70 families who are trying to get back on their feet right in our own backyard of Braithwaite," says Uddo. "We are also reaching out to those affected on the East Coast."  A donation of $100 will purchase a week's groceries, much needed gas to travel back and forth to their devastated homes or help purchase basic, personal care items or cleaning supplies for their homes.  

We urge people to donate by December 15 so this relief can get to those in need by Christmas. Donations of any amount can be made online at: www.stpaulshomecomingcenter.org or mailed to St. Paul's Homecoming Center, 1509 Filmore Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70122. Donors can designate Braithwaite or East Coast when they give.  A portion of the donation is tax deductible.

"As we did post-Katrina, we are committed to bringing our neighborhood disaster recovery efforts wherever there is great need," says Uddo. "The people of Braithwaite are still hurting and now residents of the East Coast are faced with recovering from the effects of an epic storm.  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie shared sentiments similar to many other East Coast officials when he said the damage from Hurricane Sandy is ‘beyond anything I ever thought I'd see.'  Should individuals decide to ‘adopt-a-family' in lieu of an expensive dinner, or a week's worth of fast food, we hope that this will serve as a teachable moment for many families across our community about giving back...not only on a Tuesday, but on every day of the week."

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ABOUT THE ST. PAUL'S HOMECOMING CENTER:
In September 2006, the St. Paul's Homecoming Center, under the guidance of Director, Connie Uddo, was opened to provide the post-Katrina community with volunteer help, housing, tools, computer access, a wash-a-teria, Road Home assistance, case managers, mental health counselors, welcome baskets, community barbeques, bottomless cups of coffee and a shoulder of support.   In January, 2009,  St. Paul's Homecoming Center moved to the flood-damaged neighborhood of Gentilly, where it continues to help hundreds of residents return and rebuild their lives. For more information on the St. Paul's Homecoming Center, visit www.stpaulshomecomingcenter.org .