By the way, the Saints lost in the last 3 seconds.

[marathoner452]

Emergency Communities will be closing at the end of November, and effective immediately they will be closing at 6 on weekdays and will be closed on weekends.  This is not because the community has rebounded to the point where they no longer need a community center and three hot meals a day.  There is still very little open that I can see, with the exception of a gas station, a church or two, and the school/library.  No, EC is closing because they're running out of money, and I wish I had about $5,000 to give away to keep them open through Christmas. 

Maybe some of the Garden District people I saw riding around in their luxury SUVs when I was up there running on Saturday can help them out.

In any case, just so those of you outside the city know, good things ARE happening here all over the city.

Another example is Reap the Harvest Full Gospel Baptist Church not far from the Mississippi levee down in the Lower 9, where I went yesterday morning at the invite of a gentleman I talked with at EC.  I was the only white person there but I was welcomed wholeheartedly with plenty of hugs and handshakes and smiles.

Comments

Re: I wish I'd seen New Orleans before, well, you know...

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

Going home for Christmas is going to be surreal because life in rural Maryland and suburban Michigan is so different from life here. What is an old news story most other places is part of everyday life here. I can't step out my front door without seeing red x's everywhere, I can't go to the grocery store without driving through neighborhoods that once drowned in 20 feet of water, I can't drive or bike anywhere without wondering why? why? why?

Just as importantly, I can't go for a bike ride without noticing historic houses in every color of the rainbow or hearing music spilling out onto the streets or dodging tourists on their way to a hearty bowl of gumbo or etouffee. There is life and energy and open-mindedness and creativity everywhere I look.

All New Orleans wants is for someone to listen.

(Which you do, and you understand and get it.)