Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Matt's New Orleans Sermon
One of our favorite post-New Orleans traditions is our celebration Mass at St. Francis Church with lively music and lots of youth participation. This year we heard from Emily and Tia about what most touched them about this year's trip. As he does each year, Matt followed up their words and connected them to the day's readings in a beautiful and moving way. Watch and enjoy!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
ReNew has Returned!
We are back!
Well, technically, we've been back for four days now -- so long that some of us have already left on our next adventures. But as we settle back into cooler weather and sleeping in our own beds, we know that there will always be a piece of each of us left behind in New Orleans. We are also very aware that we will always carry our experiences in our hearts, long after the bruises and scrapes have healed, the drywall mud has been washed from our clothes and the paint from our hair, and the mosquito bites have subsided.
Since our last writing, the rest of the week was spent diving into work. Wednesday morning, we visited Mr. Dusuau, whose home we helped to finish in 2010. Mr. Dusuau was kind enough to let all 40 of us traipse through his home to show off the handiwork of our teammates, and told us about continuing to work his job at the water treatment plant during the Storm. For more of Mr. Dusuau's story, you can check out the 2010 video, accessible through our Links page.
On Wednesday afternoon we added an additional house to our lineup, a cute trailer owned by a sweet older couple named the Uplingers. At 70, Mr. Uplinger was in the house working when we arrived, despite his wife's scolding. A mini-team of four of us spent the remainder of the week working to finish up the home so that the family could move in by the end of this week. We also discovered that classmates from St. Ignatius High School had previously worked on the Uplinger's house during their Spring Break immersion trip! Wednesday was a day for switching tasks all around, as the Washington house progressed from mudding to priming, and the Buckner house team was able to begin drywalling!
Thursday morning, we visited Mrs. Phoenix, whose home we drywalled in 2008, and her sister, Mrs. Phillip, who lives next door. These wonderful ladies were our first introduction to the culture of New Orleans, cooking us down-home lunches of gumbo or fried pork chops daily from the tiny kitchen of the FEMA trailer they shared. Each year they have welcomed us back with open arms and fond memories, as the new team members look through the photo album of post-storm devastation the ladies chronicled.
On Friday we enjoyed a beautiful note from home sent by our "prayer buddies" of St. Raphael Church's JPC (Jovenes Para Cristo) young-adult group. we adventured to the French Quarter for begneits and shopping before heading off to our final workday. We returned home to an amazing dinner of 50 POUNDS of shrimp, along with crab, corn, and potatoes, that Mack had prepared for us as a token of his appreciation! After dinner, we gathered in a circle and each shared something that impacted us about our week. Our responses were often humorous (and sometimes interrupted by the killing of a passing cockroach) but always heartfelt. It is clear that none of us will be the same for having been, and that all of us are determined to continue to work to rebuild New Orleans and raise awareness of the ongoing need in the Lower 9th Ward and throughout the city.
We look forward to sharing our stories with you at our two upcoming Masses, as well as after Mass. This Sunday we will gather together at 9 AM at St. Raphael Church, and on Sunday, August 5 we will gather at 9 AM at St. Francis Church in Novato. We hope to see you there!
I'd like to close with a picture I spotted online as I was (procrastinating in) writing this post, that pretty much sums up how I think most of us feel about this trip:
Well, technically, we've been back for four days now -- so long that some of us have already left on our next adventures. But as we settle back into cooler weather and sleeping in our own beds, we know that there will always be a piece of each of us left behind in New Orleans. We are also very aware that we will always carry our experiences in our hearts, long after the bruises and scrapes have healed, the drywall mud has been washed from our clothes and the paint from our hair, and the mosquito bites have subsided.
Since our last writing, the rest of the week was spent diving into work. Wednesday morning, we visited Mr. Dusuau, whose home we helped to finish in 2010. Mr. Dusuau was kind enough to let all 40 of us traipse through his home to show off the handiwork of our teammates, and told us about continuing to work his job at the water treatment plant during the Storm. For more of Mr. Dusuau's story, you can check out the 2010 video, accessible through our Links page.
On Wednesday afternoon we added an additional house to our lineup, a cute trailer owned by a sweet older couple named the Uplingers. At 70, Mr. Uplinger was in the house working when we arrived, despite his wife's scolding. A mini-team of four of us spent the remainder of the week working to finish up the home so that the family could move in by the end of this week. We also discovered that classmates from St. Ignatius High School had previously worked on the Uplinger's house during their Spring Break immersion trip! Wednesday was a day for switching tasks all around, as the Washington house progressed from mudding to priming, and the Buckner house team was able to begin drywalling!
Thursday morning, we visited Mrs. Phoenix, whose home we drywalled in 2008, and her sister, Mrs. Phillip, who lives next door. These wonderful ladies were our first introduction to the culture of New Orleans, cooking us down-home lunches of gumbo or fried pork chops daily from the tiny kitchen of the FEMA trailer they shared. Each year they have welcomed us back with open arms and fond memories, as the new team members look through the photo album of post-storm devastation the ladies chronicled.
On Friday we enjoyed a beautiful note from home sent by our "prayer buddies" of St. Raphael Church's JPC (Jovenes Para Cristo) young-adult group. we adventured to the French Quarter for begneits and shopping before heading off to our final workday. We returned home to an amazing dinner of 50 POUNDS of shrimp, along with crab, corn, and potatoes, that Mack had prepared for us as a token of his appreciation! After dinner, we gathered in a circle and each shared something that impacted us about our week. Our responses were often humorous (and sometimes interrupted by the killing of a passing cockroach) but always heartfelt. It is clear that none of us will be the same for having been, and that all of us are determined to continue to work to rebuild New Orleans and raise awareness of the ongoing need in the Lower 9th Ward and throughout the city.
We look forward to sharing our stories with you at our two upcoming Masses, as well as after Mass. This Sunday we will gather together at 9 AM at St. Raphael Church, and on Sunday, August 5 we will gather at 9 AM at St. Francis Church in Novato. We hope to see you there!
I'd like to close with a picture I spotted online as I was (procrastinating in) writing this post, that pretty much sums up how I think most of us feel about this trip:
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
We Made the Local News!!
Fox 8 News of New Orleans came and did a human interest piece on us today! Apparently, we are one of a very few groups who have continued to come back each year from a far away destination, and a quick minute on the news was our five year anniversary present!
Hoping this works, here's the video:
New Orleans Local News, Weather, Sports, Investigations
Or you can link to the video on the Fox 8 page here:
http://www.fox8live.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=7488310
Hoping this works, here's the video:
New Orleans Local News, Weather, Sports, Investigations
Or you can link to the video on the Fox 8 page here:
http://www.fox8live.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=7488310
Monday, July 9, 2012
Heading to Work!
It's Monday, which means that today started our wonderful work week -- our reason for being here! Our orientation for the St. Bernard Project, the organization responsible for connecting us with homeowners in need of rebuilding and providing trained site supervisors, was scheduled for 12:30, but our morning was anything but relaxed.
We spent the morning cleaning and organizing here at "home," doing our best to pay back our hospitality by lending our many hands to make light work of all that needs to be done here. The Village is a wonderful place, but as soon as we arrived we could see that the staff had lots on their plate, and there was much we could do to help improve organization and functionality. We mopped and vaccuumed and scrubbed, rearranged furniture and replaced broken parts, all of which cost us very little, but will benefit so many.
Our large group was split into two groups for the workweek. Eighteen of us are beginning the first step in rebuilding a house for Miss Charlene and her elderly mother and teen daughter -- insulation and drywall which will transform the house from an empty shell into a functional space. The other twenty of our crew are working on the subsequent step for the Washington family -- drywall mud and priming to prepare for painting. While the Washington family has been plagued with medical and financial issues in the years just before and since Hurricane Katrina, they plan to do their own painting, rather than use volunteer assistance, so that they may always feel a sense of pride in completing their home together as a family.
We were thrilled to come home to a traditional New Orleans Monday night meal of Red Beans and Rice, and after dessert we partnered up team members from different job sites to share reflections on today. Despite difficult work, team members from both sites were impressed by the courage and positivity the homeowners posses, and most enjoyed their work, despite challenges they may have faced.
While still hot, the weather today was much cooler than it had been, with a soothing breeze that made being outdoors pleasant and relaxing after work, instead of uncomfortable and to-be-avoided.
Tomorrow we look forward to returning to our job sites to continue our work. We will also be able to spend the morning helping with the Village's neighborhood reading incentive program -- assisting children in selecting books, reading with them, and cultivating Pen-Pal connections.
For now, though, the 1 and 2 AM bedtimes of Sunday night have given way to 10 and 11 PM bedtimes tonight for many of us -- including myself.
We can't wait to see what tomorrow holds for us!
We spent the morning cleaning and organizing here at "home," doing our best to pay back our hospitality by lending our many hands to make light work of all that needs to be done here. The Village is a wonderful place, but as soon as we arrived we could see that the staff had lots on their plate, and there was much we could do to help improve organization and functionality. We mopped and vaccuumed and scrubbed, rearranged furniture and replaced broken parts, all of which cost us very little, but will benefit so many.
Our large group was split into two groups for the workweek. Eighteen of us are beginning the first step in rebuilding a house for Miss Charlene and her elderly mother and teen daughter -- insulation and drywall which will transform the house from an empty shell into a functional space. The other twenty of our crew are working on the subsequent step for the Washington family -- drywall mud and priming to prepare for painting. While the Washington family has been plagued with medical and financial issues in the years just before and since Hurricane Katrina, they plan to do their own painting, rather than use volunteer assistance, so that they may always feel a sense of pride in completing their home together as a family.
We were thrilled to come home to a traditional New Orleans Monday night meal of Red Beans and Rice, and after dessert we partnered up team members from different job sites to share reflections on today. Despite difficult work, team members from both sites were impressed by the courage and positivity the homeowners posses, and most enjoyed their work, despite challenges they may have faced.
While still hot, the weather today was much cooler than it had been, with a soothing breeze that made being outdoors pleasant and relaxing after work, instead of uncomfortable and to-be-avoided.
Tomorrow we look forward to returning to our job sites to continue our work. We will also be able to spend the morning helping with the Village's neighborhood reading incentive program -- assisting children in selecting books, reading with them, and cultivating Pen-Pal connections.
For now, though, the 1 and 2 AM bedtimes of Sunday night have given way to 10 and 11 PM bedtimes tonight for many of us -- including myself.
We can't wait to see what tomorrow holds for us!
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Sunday
Greetings from Day 2!
We all enjoyed our first full day in NOLA. After breakfast, we all headed off to our home Church here in town, St. Augustine Catholic Church in Treme (Truh- MAY), the area of New Orleans famous for being the birthplace of Jazz music. Fr. Moody, the pastor, welcomed us back for our fourth year going to Mass there, and gave a powerful sermon that led many of us to thoughtful discussion. Almost all of us were moved by the power of singing Bach's beautiful version of the Lord's Prayer in unison. And the St. Augustine Soulful Voices Choir is amazing -- it was like being at a concert within the Mass! While we didn't record them, you can hear a bit below, and find more on YouTube:
After Mass we returned to the Village for lunch and spent some time making chore charts and cleaning up our space before heading out on a tour of some of the local devastation and renewal that has happened in the last seven years. We are staying just two blocks away from a home we painted two years ago, so we stopped to see it, as well as the Flood Memorial, the area of the levee in the Lower Ninth where the most serious breach occurred, the "Brad Pitt houses" of the Make it Right foundation, and the Musician's Village. At several points, despite the threat of thunderstorms, we stopped to get a closer look at our surroundings and Matt, Tomas, Beth, and some of our veterans, were able to give some insight into what we were seeing.
Our six-vehicle caravan was quite a challenge to maintain, and must have been a sight for other drivers on the road! We did get separated at one point, as some vehicles stopped to take more pictures than others, but while waiting we found a cool digital-age playground and spent a little time goofing off, kid style.
After the tour, we headed out to Parkway Bakery for an authentic "Nawlins" po'boy dinner. Now, stuffed to the gills with fried catfish, shrimp, or roast beef po'boys, we are home enjoying some downtime before the real work begins tomorrow.
On a side note, my last two posts have been written from the computer lab here at the village, but unfortunately, I can't seem to attach photos to the blog from these computers. However, the village is equipped with wi-fi, and once we get connected to the network, I hope to be able to upload some pictures via one of our chaperons' iPads. Stay tuned for that and for our update tomorrow on our first day of work!
We all enjoyed our first full day in NOLA. After breakfast, we all headed off to our home Church here in town, St. Augustine Catholic Church in Treme (Truh- MAY), the area of New Orleans famous for being the birthplace of Jazz music. Fr. Moody, the pastor, welcomed us back for our fourth year going to Mass there, and gave a powerful sermon that led many of us to thoughtful discussion. Almost all of us were moved by the power of singing Bach's beautiful version of the Lord's Prayer in unison. And the St. Augustine Soulful Voices Choir is amazing -- it was like being at a concert within the Mass! While we didn't record them, you can hear a bit below, and find more on YouTube:
After Mass we returned to the Village for lunch and spent some time making chore charts and cleaning up our space before heading out on a tour of some of the local devastation and renewal that has happened in the last seven years. We are staying just two blocks away from a home we painted two years ago, so we stopped to see it, as well as the Flood Memorial, the area of the levee in the Lower Ninth where the most serious breach occurred, the "Brad Pitt houses" of the Make it Right foundation, and the Musician's Village. At several points, despite the threat of thunderstorms, we stopped to get a closer look at our surroundings and Matt, Tomas, Beth, and some of our veterans, were able to give some insight into what we were seeing.
Our six-vehicle caravan was quite a challenge to maintain, and must have been a sight for other drivers on the road! We did get separated at one point, as some vehicles stopped to take more pictures than others, but while waiting we found a cool digital-age playground and spent a little time goofing off, kid style.
After the tour, we headed out to Parkway Bakery for an authentic "Nawlins" po'boy dinner. Now, stuffed to the gills with fried catfish, shrimp, or roast beef po'boys, we are home enjoying some downtime before the real work begins tomorrow.
On a side note, my last two posts have been written from the computer lab here at the village, but unfortunately, I can't seem to attach photos to the blog from these computers. However, the village is equipped with wi-fi, and once we get connected to the network, I hope to be able to upload some pictures via one of our chaperons' iPads. Stay tuned for that and for our update tomorrow on our first day of work!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
We Have Arrived!
We have arrived, safe and sound! It's about 8:30 PM here in NOLA, and all is well. We got in about 20 minutes behind schedule, but quickly made it through the car rental process and were welcomed home to the Lower 9th Ward Village by about 3:30. On the way here, many of our veterans recognized some of the homes we had worked on previously, while our newcomers got a lay of the land and a glimpse at the communities and at the hurricane damage still visible today.
Once we arrived, we received a meaningful orientation from L9WV Director "Mack," then quickly set to work clearing rooms to make space to set up cots, tidying up the kitchen area, and getting settled in. We experienced our first Thunderstorm as we worked and many of us enjoyed a refreshing dash into the rain. A small team adventured to Popeye's Chicken for takeout dinner, where we were greeted with appreciation (and even a donation) by locals when we mentioned that we are volunteers. In a short while we will gather all together for a rundown of tomorrow's activities -- which will include Mass at St. Augustine and what is sure to be a powerful tour of the levees from Mack. For now, we are all enjoying some "hangout" time -- playing cards and H.O.R.S.E, reading, showering, chatting, and just being together, looking forward to what the next seven days hold in store for us.
Once we arrived, we received a meaningful orientation from L9WV Director "Mack," then quickly set to work clearing rooms to make space to set up cots, tidying up the kitchen area, and getting settled in. We experienced our first Thunderstorm as we worked and many of us enjoyed a refreshing dash into the rain. A small team adventured to Popeye's Chicken for takeout dinner, where we were greeted with appreciation (and even a donation) by locals when we mentioned that we are volunteers. In a short while we will gather all together for a rundown of tomorrow's activities -- which will include Mass at St. Augustine and what is sure to be a powerful tour of the levees from Mack. For now, we are all enjoying some "hangout" time -- playing cards and H.O.R.S.E, reading, showering, chatting, and just being together, looking forward to what the next seven days hold in store for us.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
ReNew Orleans in the News
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
ReNew Orleans has made the papers! Thanks to the hard work of Matt McMurphy, Betsy Guthrie, and IJ writer Zach Dubin, an article on the work that we are doing in NOLA will be appearing in Thursday's Marin IJ! Check it out!
Can't wait 'til Thursday? Read it NOW at http://www.marinij.com/novato/ci_20999179/marin-teens-still-at-work-helping-new-orleans?source=rss!
ReNew Orleans has made the papers! Thanks to the hard work of Matt McMurphy, Betsy Guthrie, and IJ writer Zach Dubin, an article on the work that we are doing in NOLA will be appearing in Thursday's Marin IJ! Check it out!
Can't wait 'til Thursday? Read it NOW at http://www.marinij.com/novato/ci_20999179/marin-teens-still-at-work-helping-new-orleans?source=rss!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
T-minus Two Weeks
The plane tickets have arrived, the rental vans are booked (seven of them), and the crew t-shirts are on their way. We are preparing for Saturday's final meeting at 4 and commissioning blessing at 5 PM Mass at St. Raphael Church, and giving interviews to the local paper. We're dusting off our work gloves and paint-covered clothes, and whetting our appetites for beignets and red beans & rice. Our participants traveling abroad have returned home, our graduates have graduated, we've raised more money than ever before, and we're getting geared up and ready to go!
We've washed cars and baked treats and held raffles and dined out and gotten our cars serviced. We've paid out for our plane tickets, and have money in the bank for our housing and rental vehicles. NOW we just need $8,000 to cover food, gas, and any incidental expenses! Can we do it? YES WE CAN -- with YOUR help! Just keep praying, and click Donate!!
And as always, thank you so much for your prayers and support.
We've washed cars and baked treats and held raffles and dined out and gotten our cars serviced. We've paid out for our plane tickets, and have money in the bank for our housing and rental vehicles. NOW we just need $8,000 to cover food, gas, and any incidental expenses! Can we do it? YES WE CAN -- with YOUR help! Just keep praying, and click Donate!!
And as always, thank you so much for your prayers and support.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Almost There!
Just under a month from our departure date, we hit a fantastic milestone today -- we are 3/4 of the way to our $40,000 fundraising goal!
Thank you so much to all of our donors so far, and remember that there are still ways to help us out. You can click the Donate button to the right, or you can take your car to 76/Marin Express Lube & Diagnostic for service -- oil changes, SMOG checks, mechanic services, and more -- and let them know you're there for ReNew Orleans.
Visit our booth at the Canal Alliance 30th Anniversary Festival on Sunday, June 24th from 2 - 7 pm. We will be accepting donations and offering some great raffle prizes.
Stay tuned to bulletins and email for more upcoming fundraisers. And please join us on Saturday, June 30th at 5 PM Mass at St. Raphael Church for our special Mission Blessing before we head off on our journedy!
In honor reaching this fantastic milestone, enjoy a snippet of one of my favorite New Orleans films, The Princess and the Frog.
Thank you so much to all of our donors so far, and remember that there are still ways to help us out. You can click the Donate button to the right, or you can take your car to 76/Marin Express Lube & Diagnostic for service -- oil changes, SMOG checks, mechanic services, and more -- and let them know you're there for ReNew Orleans.
Visit our booth at the Canal Alliance 30th Anniversary Festival on Sunday, June 24th from 2 - 7 pm. We will be accepting donations and offering some great raffle prizes.
Stay tuned to bulletins and email for more upcoming fundraisers. And please join us on Saturday, June 30th at 5 PM Mass at St. Raphael Church for our special Mission Blessing before we head off on our journedy!
In honor reaching this fantastic milestone, enjoy a snippet of one of my favorite New Orleans films, The Princess and the Frog.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
TWO Chances to Help Us Fundraise This Week
This week, enjoy not one but TWO delicious dining experiences, and provide
double the support for our parish youth headed to New Orleans this July to
rebuild homes and hope.
TONIGHT (Wednesday, May 30), dine in or get takeout from Roadside BBQ in Terra
Linda! Mention New Orleans, and 20% of your meal price will be donated to
our trip. Roadside BBQ is located at the Northgate Mall, next to Kohl's,
and is open from 11 AM - 9 PM -- don't miss their delicious ribs!
On Sunday, June 3, visit Crepevine, located at 908 Fourth Street in San Rafael, and
50% of your purchase will be donated to support our Mission Trip! In order
to secure this generous donation, though, we need at least 150 patrons and
$1400 in purchases, so please stop by for sweet or savory crepes, or a
delicious salad or sandwich, and tell your cashier that you're dining
for New Orleans!!
Thanks for your support!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Fundraising progress
Thank you so much to everyone who came out for our Car Wash this past weekend! We had a great time and raised almost $2,000 through pre-sale and day-of ticket purchases.
We also got our results from the second Dining Day at San Rafael Joe's -- we brought in $2,300 in sales and got $500 back for our cause!
Our next Dining Day will be Wednesday, May 30 at Roadside BBQ in the Northgate Mall! Mark your calendars and whet your appetites for some good ol' fashioned Southern-style comfort food!
Finally, and most importantly, we are still in need of $4,000 (or about $100 per participant) by next Monday to finalize our airplane tickets, though, so if you haven't yet, please click that Donate button!
Thank you SO much for all your love, prayers & support!
We also got our results from the second Dining Day at San Rafael Joe's -- we brought in $2,300 in sales and got $500 back for our cause!
Our next Dining Day will be Wednesday, May 30 at Roadside BBQ in the Northgate Mall! Mark your calendars and whet your appetites for some good ol' fashioned Southern-style comfort food!
Finally, and most importantly, we are still in need of $4,000 (or about $100 per participant) by next Monday to finalize our airplane tickets, though, so if you haven't yet, please click that Donate button!
Thank you SO much for all your love, prayers & support!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Workin' at the Car Wash for NOLA!
Come one, come all, and get your cars washed!
This Saturday, our team will be washing cars to help us reach our May 20 goal of $20,000. We will be in not one but TWO locations, for your convenience. Join us at either:
St. Sylvester's Chapel
1115 Point San Pedro Rd.
San Rafael
OR
St. Francis of Assisi Church
967 Fifth Street
Novato
Cost is $12 for cars or $14 for trucks/vans/SUVs, with drive-thru service. It's fast, easy, and helps us reach our goal!
This Saturday, our team will be washing cars to help us reach our May 20 goal of $20,000. We will be in not one but TWO locations, for your convenience. Join us at either:
St. Sylvester's Chapel
1115 Point San Pedro Rd.
San Rafael
OR
St. Francis of Assisi Church
967 Fifth Street
Novato
Cost is $12 for cars or $14 for trucks/vans/SUVs, with drive-thru service. It's fast, easy, and helps us reach our goal!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Dinner and a Movie
Thank you so much to everyone who came out last night to support our fundraiser at San Rafael Joe's. It was great to see and celebrate with so many of you. Three friends of ReNew Orleans celebrated their birthdays at Joe's last night: Ryan Farrell, Brendan Lenz, and St. Raphael parish legend John Diego, who turned 91 this week!
While we anxiously await the results of our fundraiser, I thought I'd treat you all to a little after-dinner film entertainment. Beasts of the Southern Wild comes out just before we leave for NOLA (so a group field trip may be arranged), but the trailer was so moving and beautiful, I had to share it with you all.
There's also a fantastic interview with the director.
And for dessert? How about some Sweet Potato Cupcakes!
While we anxiously await the results of our fundraiser, I thought I'd treat you all to a little after-dinner film entertainment. Beasts of the Southern Wild comes out just before we leave for NOLA (so a group field trip may be arranged), but the trailer was so moving and beautiful, I had to share it with you all.
There's also a fantastic interview with the director.
And for dessert? How about some Sweet Potato Cupcakes!
Monday, April 30, 2012
San Rafael Joe's Dining Fundraiser -- Part 2
This Wednesday, May 2nd, join us once more at San Rafael Joe's on Fourth Street in Downtown San Rafael. Don't forget to tell your server that you're dining for New Orleans! Just like before, a percentage of your bill will be donated back to us.
Again, you can dine anytime between 11 AM and 9 PM, and you can dine there or do take-out!
Thanks for your support and we look forward to seeing you at SR Joe's!
Again, you can dine anytime between 11 AM and 9 PM, and you can dine there or do take-out!
Thanks for your support and we look forward to seeing you at SR Joe's!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Lunch with us at Mr. Pickle's this Thursday!
Or Dinner! Or Breakfast, for that matter!
We are so fortunate! After hearing about the amazing work we are doing in New Orleans, as well as the big business we brought in to San Rafael Joe's recently, Mr. Pickle's of San Rafael offered to host their very own dining fundraiser for us. This Thursday, April 5 you can enjoy a tasty and filling sandwich, soup, or salad at Mr. Pickle's, accompanied by a side of heartwarming knowledge that you have helped support ReNew Orleans. Simply mention at checkout that you are there to support ReNew Orleans, and they will donate back 20% of the cost of your lunch to help fund our trip.
Mr. Pickle's is located at 1014 Court Street in San Rafael, in the Plaza area off Fourth Street, between Barney's Burgers and Cold Stone Creamery. You can stop in anytime between 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM.
We are so fortunate! After hearing about the amazing work we are doing in New Orleans, as well as the big business we brought in to San Rafael Joe's recently, Mr. Pickle's of San Rafael offered to host their very own dining fundraiser for us. This Thursday, April 5 you can enjoy a tasty and filling sandwich, soup, or salad at Mr. Pickle's, accompanied by a side of heartwarming knowledge that you have helped support ReNew Orleans. Simply mention at checkout that you are there to support ReNew Orleans, and they will donate back 20% of the cost of your lunch to help fund our trip.
Mr. Pickle's is located at 1014 Court Street in San Rafael, in the Plaza area off Fourth Street, between Barney's Burgers and Cold Stone Creamery. You can stop in anytime between 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Ellen and Brad Visit New Orleans
Ellen DeGeneres visited Brad Pitt in New Orleans to talk about the progress that has been made and the work still needing to be done. We visit this neighborhood each year to see the new and funky houses that sprout up each year, though we've sadly never seen Brad Pitt there in person. It's close to what was probably the worst levee breach, both in terms of physical damage done and in terms of devastating one of the most economically depressed areas of the city. It's amazing to see how many experts have come together to help bring this area back from destruction. Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Food-Focused Fundraising
Thank you so very much to everyone who supported our dinner at San Rafael Joe's on Thursday. We had a great turnout and lots of fun while we raised $500 for ReNew Orleans!
In fact, we had SO much fun that we are going to do it AGAIN! Yep, you read right! Mark your calendars now for Wednesday, May 2, when Joe's will again donate 10% back to ReNew Orleans.
Also, whether you attend Mass on Sundays at St. Raphael or St. Francis, you will be able to support our efforts further by visiting our "Healthy Food" Bake Sale after Sunday services. We will have delicious seasonal fruits and homemade muffins available on a Pay-What-You-Will basis. It's a great way to recover from post-St. Patrick's Day festivities, and you can support us even if you gave up sweets for Lent!
As of today, our fundraising has officially passed the 10% mark and is increasing steadily. We are now at $5,432 raised!
If you've been paying attention to our many fundraisers, you may start to ask yourself, "Why is all this fundraising centered around food?" The answer is simple, really. Everyone Eats. Eating is one of the few universals -- crossing all gender lines, cultural lines, economic lines, age lines. Because of this, it's easy to include more people in the fundraising. Whether someone buys a 50-cent muffin or a $50 dinner at a restaurant on one of our dining nights, they can feel good about supporting our trip in a way that is financially comfortable for them at the time. Also, because food is universal, acquiring the food to sell is usually inexpensive and easy for participants or families to donate. Plus, because New Orleans has such a rich culinary history, it's fun to be able to share elements of N'awlins cooking, like Cajun shrimp pasta and beignets, with our California supporters. So thanks for asking -- and eat up!
Please remember to help keep our efforts going strong by sharing this blog and encouraging your friends and family to learn more about what we do in New Orleans. Also, if you are interested in more personal stories from our youth, please check out the blogs Nicole Goes to Germany and My Swed-ish Adventure -- Nicole and Collin have both participated in our trip several times, and while they are both studying abroad this year, they took time from their studies to reflect on what the trip means to them.
Thank you once again to everyone who has donated so far, and a special thank you to Cynthia, Carlo, and all the staff at San Rafael Joe's for all of their hard work and generosity.
In fact, we had SO much fun that we are going to do it AGAIN! Yep, you read right! Mark your calendars now for Wednesday, May 2, when Joe's will again donate 10% back to ReNew Orleans.
Also, whether you attend Mass on Sundays at St. Raphael or St. Francis, you will be able to support our efforts further by visiting our "Healthy Food" Bake Sale after Sunday services. We will have delicious seasonal fruits and homemade muffins available on a Pay-What-You-Will basis. It's a great way to recover from post-St. Patrick's Day festivities, and you can support us even if you gave up sweets for Lent!
As of today, our fundraising has officially passed the 10% mark and is increasing steadily. We are now at $5,432 raised!
If you've been paying attention to our many fundraisers, you may start to ask yourself, "Why is all this fundraising centered around food?" The answer is simple, really. Everyone Eats. Eating is one of the few universals -- crossing all gender lines, cultural lines, economic lines, age lines. Because of this, it's easy to include more people in the fundraising. Whether someone buys a 50-cent muffin or a $50 dinner at a restaurant on one of our dining nights, they can feel good about supporting our trip in a way that is financially comfortable for them at the time. Also, because food is universal, acquiring the food to sell is usually inexpensive and easy for participants or families to donate. Plus, because New Orleans has such a rich culinary history, it's fun to be able to share elements of N'awlins cooking, like Cajun shrimp pasta and beignets, with our California supporters. So thanks for asking -- and eat up!
Please remember to help keep our efforts going strong by sharing this blog and encouraging your friends and family to learn more about what we do in New Orleans. Also, if you are interested in more personal stories from our youth, please check out the blogs Nicole Goes to Germany and My Swed-ish Adventure -- Nicole and Collin have both participated in our trip several times, and while they are both studying abroad this year, they took time from their studies to reflect on what the trip means to them.
Thank you once again to everyone who has donated so far, and a special thank you to Cynthia, Carlo, and all the staff at San Rafael Joe's for all of their hard work and generosity.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Dine with us at San Rafael Joe's this Thursday!
Take a night off from cooking and join us at San Rafael Joe's this Thursday! Bring our flyer or mention to your server that you're there to support the New Orleans Mission Trip, and Joe's will donate 10% of your bill to support our trip.
You can dine anytime from 11 AM to 9 PM, but if you come at dinnertime you will have a chance to visit with some of the Mission Trip-ers!
Thanks for your support, and we hope to see you there!
You can dine anytime from 11 AM to 9 PM, but if you come at dinnertime you will have a chance to visit with some of the Mission Trip-ers!
Thanks for your support, and we hope to see you there!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Donate Online Now!
Look over there! ======================>
It's easy! It's safe! It's convenient! It's bright orange!
It's our brand new Donate Now button!
How do you use it? Just click it, and in a few short steps, you can donate to us using your credit card or bank account. You don't even need a PayPal account to do it! Just follow the instructions on the screen!
What happens if you have a specific trip member you want to donate to, you ask? No Problem! On the "Review Your Donation" page, just click the blue writing that says "Donating for a specific trip member?" A text box will appear where you can type a trip member's name (or more than one name) so they can get credit for your donation.
Concerned about the safety of your bank or card information? So is PayPal. Check it out!
The ReNew Orleans Donate button! Use it early and often, and tell a friend!
PLUS! Be one of the first 5 online donors, and get a free "vintage" New Orleans 2011 T-shirt!
It's easy! It's safe! It's convenient! It's bright orange!
It's our brand new Donate Now button!
How do you use it? Just click it, and in a few short steps, you can donate to us using your credit card or bank account. You don't even need a PayPal account to do it! Just follow the instructions on the screen!
What happens if you have a specific trip member you want to donate to, you ask? No Problem! On the "Review Your Donation" page, just click the blue writing that says "Donating for a specific trip member?" A text box will appear where you can type a trip member's name (or more than one name) so they can get credit for your donation.
Concerned about the safety of your bank or card information? So is PayPal. Check it out!
The ReNew Orleans Donate button! Use it early and often, and tell a friend!
PLUS! Be one of the first 5 online donors, and get a free "vintage" New Orleans 2011 T-shirt!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Mardi Gras Masquerade Success!
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much to everyone who helped out and supported our first ever Mardi Gras Masquerade Dinner Dance!
We are especially grateful to Janice Varlow, for a seemingly endless supply of tablecloths, lights, and energy, Sally & Joey Cervetto for stepping up to help with serving logistics and deep-fryer challenges, Vanesa Kaselionis for helping to organize a silent auction and showing up despite illness to help coordinate flow, Marcello Todaro and Carolyn Moren for beginning to plan improvements for next year, and all the friend & siblings (Timmy, Luis, Gabriel, Griffin, Eduardo, Ian, Austin) who jumped in to slice bread, take down decorations, move furniture, and load cars because you were there and it needed to be done. Thank you to the parents, colleagues, and families who came out to celebrate, and we hope you all had as much fun as those 6th and 7th grade girls were having on the dance floor! Of course, thank you to our amazing team leaders and our fabulous NOLA 2012 team, many of whom showed up early, stayed late, remained on task, and showed exactly why this will be the best Mission Trip yet!
And finally, we were told earlier in the week that, considering our very short planning time, a successful event would be one where we would break even. Although final counts will take place in the office on Tuesday, we can safely say that we have done MORE than break even, we have indeed made money -- around $800, almost the entire cost for one participant!!
Thank you again to one and all!
We are especially grateful to Janice Varlow, for a seemingly endless supply of tablecloths, lights, and energy, Sally & Joey Cervetto for stepping up to help with serving logistics and deep-fryer challenges, Vanesa Kaselionis for helping to organize a silent auction and showing up despite illness to help coordinate flow, Marcello Todaro and Carolyn Moren for beginning to plan improvements for next year, and all the friend & siblings (Timmy, Luis, Gabriel, Griffin, Eduardo, Ian, Austin) who jumped in to slice bread, take down decorations, move furniture, and load cars because you were there and it needed to be done. Thank you to the parents, colleagues, and families who came out to celebrate, and we hope you all had as much fun as those 6th and 7th grade girls were having on the dance floor! Of course, thank you to our amazing team leaders and our fabulous NOLA 2012 team, many of whom showed up early, stayed late, remained on task, and showed exactly why this will be the best Mission Trip yet!
And finally, we were told earlier in the week that, considering our very short planning time, a successful event would be one where we would break even. Although final counts will take place in the office on Tuesday, we can safely say that we have done MORE than break even, we have indeed made money -- around $800, almost the entire cost for one participant!!
Thank you again to one and all!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Celebrate Mardi Gras -- and a major milestone -- with us!!
Celebrate Mardi Gras with us this Saturday!!
Join us at the Marin Catholic Student Center from 6 - 10 PM for delicious New Orleans-style eats, live jazz music, fun auction offerings, and cap it all off with dancing to DJ D-Fresh! There will be fun for all ages!
Tickets are $20 at the door, and the night is a great way to celebrate a last "Hurrah" before Lent begins.
But there's one more reason to celebrate -- this Sunday, the last FEMA trailer was removed from New Orleans! It's an awesome milestone in post-Katrina recovery, as the trailers have been a major cause of contention between citizens, local government, federal government, and environmental agencies in the six years they have been in NOLA. And while it doesn't mean that all New Orleanians are back in their homes, it is a great mark of progress in rebuilding New Orleans.
Read the article here!
Join us at the Marin Catholic Student Center from 6 - 10 PM for delicious New Orleans-style eats, live jazz music, fun auction offerings, and cap it all off with dancing to DJ D-Fresh! There will be fun for all ages!
Tickets are $20 at the door, and the night is a great way to celebrate a last "Hurrah" before Lent begins.
But there's one more reason to celebrate -- this Sunday, the last FEMA trailer was removed from New Orleans! It's an awesome milestone in post-Katrina recovery, as the trailers have been a major cause of contention between citizens, local government, federal government, and environmental agencies in the six years they have been in NOLA. And while it doesn't mean that all New Orleanians are back in their homes, it is a great mark of progress in rebuilding New Orleans.
Read the article here!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
NOLA Video Break
Brad Pitt's Make it Right Foundation has built some of the most distinctive houses in the course of New Orleans disaster recovery. Last week, after plugging his new film out on DVD, he talked about it with John Stewart on The Daily Show.
Also, check out this gorgeous short film, "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore." Nominated this year for the Best Animated Short Film Academy Award, it is set in New Orleans and draws influence from Hurricane Katrina, as well as "The Wizard of Oz" and Buster Keaton films, all blended together with the magic of books.
Also, check out this gorgeous short film, "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore." Nominated this year for the Best Animated Short Film Academy Award, it is set in New Orleans and draws influence from Hurricane Katrina, as well as "The Wizard of Oz" and Buster Keaton films, all blended together with the magic of books.
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Fundraising Opportunities
We have two super-fun fundraising opportunities set in the near future. We hope you can make one or both of them.
Mardi Gras Masquerade Dinner Dance
Saturday, February 18, 6 - 10 PM
Marin Catholic John Paul II Student Center
$15 in advance, $20 at the door
Join us for New Orleans-inspired food and drink, live music, and dancing before Lent begins, and help us raise funds for our trip to the home of Mardi Gras! Masks are encouraged, and will be sold at the door.
Dinner Out at San Rafael Joe's
Thursday, March 8
931 Fourth St, San Rafael
Dine at San Rafael Joe's between 11 AM and 9 PM on March 8th and be sure to mention the New Orleans trip or St. Raphael -- Joe's will donate 10% of your bill to help fund our trip. Bring a friend (or a few)! Come at dinner time and you will have the chance to meet many of this year's participants.
We hope to see you all at one or both of these wonderful and tasty events!
Mardi Gras Masquerade Dinner Dance
Saturday, February 18, 6 - 10 PM
Marin Catholic John Paul II Student Center
$15 in advance, $20 at the door
Join us for New Orleans-inspired food and drink, live music, and dancing before Lent begins, and help us raise funds for our trip to the home of Mardi Gras! Masks are encouraged, and will be sold at the door.
Dinner Out at San Rafael Joe's
Thursday, March 8
931 Fourth St, San Rafael
Dine at San Rafael Joe's between 11 AM and 9 PM on March 8th and be sure to mention the New Orleans trip or St. Raphael -- Joe's will donate 10% of your bill to help fund our trip. Bring a friend (or a few)! Come at dinner time and you will have the chance to meet many of this year's participants.
We hope to see you all at one or both of these wonderful and tasty events!
Our Trip is Set!
Our 5th New Orleans team is officially set!
Forty-two applications were submitted and read, interviews were held to introduce youth to the concept of the trip, and we now have 33 amazing young people gearing up to go to NOLA this July 7 - 14.
We are beginning our largest fundraising campaign ever, as we need to raise about $1000 for each participant (including our 7 adult chaperons). While $40,000 is a lofty goal, we are optimistic that we can reach it through with the support of our generous and loving community.
Please stay tuned right here for news of how we are preparing for our trip and how you can help us get there!
Forty-two applications were submitted and read, interviews were held to introduce youth to the concept of the trip, and we now have 33 amazing young people gearing up to go to NOLA this July 7 - 14.
We are beginning our largest fundraising campaign ever, as we need to raise about $1000 for each participant (including our 7 adult chaperons). While $40,000 is a lofty goal, we are optimistic that we can reach it through with the support of our generous and loving community.
Please stay tuned right here for news of how we are preparing for our trip and how you can help us get there!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Get your NOLA application in today!
Major props to Mikael Moren (NOLA '11) for being the first to turn in his NOLA '12 application!
Fill yours out and turn it in soon. The deadline is THIS FRIDAY, Jan. 6.
Fill yours out and turn it in soon. The deadline is THIS FRIDAY, Jan. 6.
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