December 2006 –One year and 3 months after the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed over the city of Slidell, Louisiana, many families are not living in a home. They are living in tents, FEMA trailers and even their cars. Joy Fellowship Church is still feeding 500+ families a day, five days a week.
Your family can brighten the Holidays for these kids. As their families drive through a number of "meal and household supply stations" around the Church. The volunteers would love to give the kids a small toy.
Materials Involved:
New Toys
Crayons, markers and coloring books
Cards or checker games
Matchbox cars
Small Dolls or Beanie Babies
Steps Involved
- Ask your children the following questions:
- What do they like about celebrating the holidays at home?
- What would it be like to live in a tent, a small trailer or in their car instead of their home?
- How would your family celebrate the holidays in those conditions
- Check out the books, Stories of Christmas, by Cynthia Rylant, http://www.familycares.org/authorinterviews/authorCynthiaRylant.cfm
or A Shelter in Our Car by Monica Gunning, http://www.familycares.org/authorinterviews/authorInterviewMonicaGunning.cfm
or When a Hurricane Blew by Mann's Miracles and edited by Shirley Mann. Fourth grade kids created this book after experiencing direct hits from two major hurricanes within a single year and the resulting devastation to their Gulf Breeze, Florida community.
- Brainstorm ideas how your children could raise money to buy gifts for the kids in Louisiana – such as a can and bottle collection or doing extra chores around the house.
- Make a homemade holiday card from your family.
- Purchase your toys and box the items – do not wrap items.
- Mail directly to:
FamilyCares – Homeless for the Holidays
Joy Fellowship Church
1410 Lindberg Drive
Slidell, LA 70458
Attention: Pastor Leslie Roques
Email - joyfellowship1@juno.com
Telephone: 985-781-9777 (due to very high call volume – you would be better off to email Pastor Roques if you have questions)
