By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – Two important non-profit organizations, and the new Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Slidell will be the benefactors of three projects that are part of the 24th class of Leadership Northshore, an organization that offers local businessmen and women an intense 9-month course to learn about a broad scope of community concerns.
One key component of Leadership Northshore each year is for the class to break into six smaller teams which must all develop a lasting community project.
The projects for the 2016 class were announced at a special gathering at the Slidell Memorial Hospital Founders Building.
Today, in part I of a two part series, three of those six projects are spelled out in extra detail. The other three projects will be published in the Feb. 25 edition of The Slidell Independent.
Team #1 announced the Road to Home 5K Fun Run/Walk that will benefit Family Promise of St. Tammany; Team #2 announced a Hero’s Farewell, a project to encourage volunteer support for the Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery for needed improvements, while also bringing added awareness to the recently opened facility; and Team #3 announced the Camellia City Outreach, a fundraiser to support Safe Harbor of St. Tammany, a shelter for women and children who are the victims of domestic violence.
Road to Home
Family Promise is a new organization started in St. Tammany Parish one year ago, offering a structured way for homeless or struggling families to get on their feet. Team #1 not only saw Family Promise as a worthwhile organization to support, but also tied in statistics from the St. Tammany Parish School Board that report 1,124 children are “homeless,” a term that does not necessarily mean living on the street.
The “homeless” children reported by the school system refer in part to kids who are moving from one friend’s home to another on different nights due to unstable home situations, as well as other situations that leave children in difficult family environments.
Team #1 is addressing both issues by hosting the Road to Home 5K fun run and walk on Saturday, April 16, with the proceeds going to Family Promise.
The race will also bring attention to the St. Tammany Fishing Pier that is still raising public awareness about the wonderful facility open to the public in Slidell for fishing or simply enjoying the lake.
The team is raising money through sponsorships, then followed by registrations for the Road to Home 5K fun run and walk. They are already near their sponsorship goal thanks to its Gold Level Sponsor from the Masker Family McDonald’s.
“Family Promise is really about taking families that are struggling and putting them into the program and helping with all the skills and resources to get on their feet,” team member Matthew Meyers said. “Our goal is to also help as many people as possible know and understand what Family Promise strives to do.”
The road race will take runners and walkers on a first-ever route through the beautiful lakefront area in south Slidell, beginning and ending at the St. Tammany Fishing Pier. Registration fees are $25 for an individual or $20 for teams of three or more. Military, seniors and children can enter for $20.
Team #1 is comprised of Angela Taylor, Eric Irmscher, Lisa Dunk, Matt Meyers and Stacey Kennedy. Project Mentor is Yolanda Paz.
For more information on the race or to register, go to roadtohome5K.com.
Hero’s Farewell
The Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery opened in Slidell in the summer of 2014, but Director Ted Krumm has still been seeking local organizations or civic groups to help support some of the extra needs at the facility.
Team #2 saw that situation as a great opportunity to raise awareness to the fact the cemetery is in our own backyard, and also encourage area volunteer and other support groups to take on the cemetery for the multitude of needs they have that are not included in the annual budget.
They also saw the need for permanent seating at the Committal Shelter, the area where funeral services and special military events are held. Currently, folding chairs must be put out and picked up for all ceremonies or events there. Monies raised will purchase six permanent benches, and any additional funds will be donated to assist spouses of veterans to be buried there.
Krumm said there are many opportunities for beautification projects at the cemetery, as well as volunteer help needed for several key public events each year when hundreds of American flags need to be put out and then taken down. But he said there have only been a handful of local groups that have contacted him about becoming involved with the Veterans Cemetery.
The Leadership team aims to raise $10,000 for the permanent seating and to assist spouses of veterans who want to be buried there. Presently any military veteran can be buried there for free, but a spouse must pay $700 to be buried alongside their husband or wife.
To raise the money the group will sell a “Hero’s Farewell” vehicle magnet for $10 each, while also seeking sponsorships for levels of $100, $250, $500 or $1,000. The six sponsors who donate $1,000 each will have their names recognized with a name plate on each of the six benches at the Committal Shelter, while other sponsors will be recognized in other publicity and at a grand opening event.
“When we considered different projects and then learned of the need for permanent seating at the Veterans Cemetery we were unanimous that we wanted to do something that would honor our veterans,” team member Mike Cooper said. “And then in talking to Mr. Krumm we found there were other needs at the cemetery as well.”
The group plans to reach out to Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, ROTC groups, VFW organizations and other civic groups to make them aware of the many beautification and improvement projects that are still needed at the cemetery, but not budgeted in the operational funds. Team members will attend local events in the Slidell area and begin informing the groups of the volunteer opportunities there.
Team #2 members are Carla Mouton, Laura Suhm, Mike Cooper, Sean McLain and Tony Andre. Project Mentor is Jackelyn Gallo.
To become a sponsor, contact Mouton at lauraksuhm@gmail.com or go to their Facebook page.
Camellia City Outreach
The presentation by Team #3 to introduce the need for their fundraising effort was communicated in a dramatic way at the introduction of the six Leadership Northshore projects.
A 911 tape of an actual call almost 20 years ago allowed the packed room of attendees to listen to a young girl screaming with terror as her father attacked and beat her mother. Records showed that police were called to the home 23 times and the mother and children never were removed. Plenty of tears were flowing in the room as the story demonstrated why Safe Harbor Northshore needs support.
Team #3 will be raising funds for Safe Harbor to support the crisis intervention, safety planning and emergency shelter available at a secret location in St. Tammany Parish for women and their children who are the victims of domestic violence. But as is the case with many similar non-profits, Safe Harbor continually struggles to raise enough money to aid the important cause they support.
The Leadership group has partnered with top local artist Mandie Manzano and will sell 11×14 signed prints for $25 each, as well as a set of 10 note cards for $15 a pack. Both items display a picture of a camellia drawn by Manzano, depicting the flower that is a sign of “hope and renewal, and also representative of the Camellia City.”
“Most people know someone who has been impacted by domestic violence, but many women stay in that situation because they do not know how they will survive if they leave,” the group told the audience. “Safe Harbor offers a way out.”
The Manzano prints and set of note cards are now on sale in the month of February at the Camellia City Farmers Market on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon, and will also be sold at the Real Men of St. Tammany Gala on Feb. 27, the monthly Carey Street Crawl in Olde Towne, and the Slidell Jazz and Blues Festival.
The group is also raising money through sponsorships and is seeking a goal of $10,000 for Safe Harbor.
Team members are Cynthia Boudreaux, Larry Morreale, Kris Nelson, Bill Shipley and Marianne White. Project Mentor is Ann-Marie Koehl.
For more information on buying the prints or being a sponsor, contact them on Facebook or by calling Morreale at 504-481-1129.