Camp Ubuntu

Below is the text of an email I received a few days ago. I encourage anyone who views this to consider this opportunity:

The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana is requesting help in developing "Camp Ubuntu" a day shelter, summer camp and resource center for the several hundred youth who were traumatized by evacuation to the Superdome, separated from their families, many of whom died, others who have left for jobs up north. The youth are frequently faced with trying to figure out where they will sleep from day to day, ending up with multiple health issues- physical, mental and emotional as well as learning challenges.

St. Luke's Homecoming Center in lower New Orleans, is trying to support these teens to help them get back on their feet, to assure a viable and productive future for them and for the city itself.

Very important to the mission is the creation of a spiritually uplifting environment for the ministry. We need the help of the Church to create the sort of holding space that can heal these traumatized youth. We want it to be an environment full of "ubuntu", the Bantu spiritual principle guiding the whole project. Ubuntu was central to the theology of Desmond Tutu as a way to rebuild community in the image of God's Kingdom. It speaks of the essence of being human. We discover our human dignity through honoring the humanity of others. When you are generous and hospitable, you are friendly and compassionate, you are open and available, you are full of ubuntu. You show others their worth and discover your own.

Camp Ubuntu will create an environment that teaches and shares this spirituality through mutual service and through the physical transformation of the center's large gymnasium space. The youth and their supporters will be filling the gymnasium from top to bottom with large works of art expressive of our care, generosity and support of one another.

To be part of this new beginning for these youth we are requesting gifts of ubuntu from you, such as:

Art material and supplies:

*large rolls of natural colored canvas

*acrylic paints and paintbrushes

*spray paints in lots of colors

*stenciling kits in large letters so the kids can spell out inspirational messages on the canvasses.

Comfort

*stuffed animals

* candy or granola bars wrapped with notes of encouragement

We also welcome your works of art and those of children around the world to create a visual rainbow expressing ubuntu for the healing of so many New Orleanians whose humanity has been devalued.

We also welcome the loving presence of volunteers. Volunteer teams and material donations are needed to:

* Equip and staff the center - stipends for summer seminarian interns; funds for purchase of a van to transport youth; funds for a custodian to clean a space utilized by many children.

* Volunteer groups are needed for a ministry of hospitality, listening, and supervision.

Please contact the following if you are interested in volunteering or send donations to:

Courtney Cowart
Office of Disaster Response, Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana
1623 Seventh Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70115

"What about a week in New Orleans?" by Joan Seymour

I was one of the team who didn't go gutting houses, but instead went out with the Mobile Respite Unit and made meals at the Dragon Cafe. I came away with the feeling that while people were grateful for the items we handed out, they needed to be able to express to us how they were feeling and tell us their story. Usually the person would thank us for coming from New York and then tell us what had been their experience. I think we helped them to feel that they were not totally abandoned and someone, somewhere cared about their situation. I was particularly struck by one person who had been given a trailer but it was still not hooked up to power and sewage, after three months.

Our chef at the Dragon Cafe was very glad to have our help also - he was very much appreciated by those who came for the dinner. There seemed to be many "regulars".

The entire experience made me wonder how I would respond in that situation - I am not sure that I would have been able to go back and see all my possessions destroyed. Both caregivers and recipients are totally burnt out and need some way of dealing with that stress. So any of you counselors out there?? What about a week in New Orleans?

Bundles of Hope

I want to take a moment to direct your attention towards a recently launched fundraising program of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana. It's called Bundles of Hope, and it is essentially a monetary donation program that outlines for you what exactly X amount of dollars would afford the people of New Orleans.

For example, $10 is called a "Bundle of School Supplies." This donation provides school children with paper, pencils, erasers -- the basic necessities children require in order to carry on with their studies.

There are a variety of dollar amounts and corresponding "bundles" in this campaign, and you can even donate online by using your credit card. Additionally, if you'd like to give the donation as a gift in someone else's name, cards are available for download that will allow you to notify this person of your charitable act.

From a personal perspective, I find the work the Diocese is doing to be absolutely crucial at this time, and I know from experience that the money does actually go to help the residents of the New Orleans area. I cannot speak highly enough of the courage, passion, and dedication of the disaster relief volunteers and workers we encountered; they do so much for so many people, and they do it without question.

I encourage you to take a moment to donate, today.