Thank you, Orchard Lake Presbyterian!

PCO just recently received a very generous donation from Orchard Lake Community Church Presbyterian in Orchard Lake, MI!  This group came to work with us back in November – even working through the Thanksgiving holiday.  What a dedicated group!

This donation has given the office an extra boost of energy and excitement about the work we are doing – which coincides perfectly with the beginning of this new year.  2010 holds many chances to grow and succeed, and we look forward to many accomplishments.  It is with the help of our volunteers and supporters, like Orchard Lake Presbyterian, that we are able to do the work of Christ in the Greater New Orleans Area.

MLK Day Project in less than a week!

Okay, everybody – the countdown has begun!  In less than a week, approximately 50 volunteers from the Greater New Orleans area will gather together to build 4 new wheelchair ramps for the Northshore community!

Here is how we have done for fundraising:

We’ve raised $510 so far!  That is really most excellent.  Thank you to all who have sent in donations – and there is still time to send more, if you get them in by the end of the week.

The little planning committee will be super busy for the rest of the week, buying materials, organization tools, and making the final preparations for the event on Monday.  I think God is really moving here – He’s already brought these groups of people together, that were looking for ways to give back to the community but weren’t sure how to do it alone.  And so next Monday should be a huge success.  We’ll keep you posted here!

Donation from Pioneer Memorial

Yesterday, we received a very generous donation from Pioneer Memorial Presbyterian Church in Solon, OH!  Three members of this church came to volunteer with Valley  Presbyterian Church back in October of 2009 – and, to our great delight, they had a most wonderful time working with us.

Thank you so much, Pioneer Memorial, for continuing to support the recovery effort in Southeast Louisiana – through your volunteers, your donations, and your thoughts and prayers!

Check out Pioneer Memorial, and Valley Presbyterian in Chagrin Falls, OH.

MLK Service Project update

After Christmas vacation, PCO has been gettin’ back into the swing of things. Right now, we are working with 3 volunteers from Owens Community College in Ohio. They’re pretty great, and doing lots of work on 11th Street and Hill Road.

As many of you likely know, having received an email from me a few weeks ago, we are currently fundraising for our big Wheelchair Ramp build on January 18th, 2010 – our MLK Day Service Project. Just to let you know, we have raised $310 so far!

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far – and, of course, if you haven’t, there is still time to do so.  All funds raised go straight to supplying materials for the wheelchair ramps that will be built – no administration or maintenance costs.

And when you donate, you will receive one of these in the mail soon afterward, to recognize your generous support of PCO:

Five people will receive these these within the next day or two, and more are on their way to the post today!  Snail-mail may have that title for a reason… but I certainly enjoy getting a physical piece of mail instead of letters on a screen!

Remember, we are still accepting donations until January 11th – that means you still have just over a week to donate!  Make checks out to: Presbyterian Community Outreach, with MLK Day in the memo line; PCO, attn: Maggie Mullane, 1041 9th Street, Slidell, LA 70458.

Finally – today is the last day of 2009!  May you all have a wonderful holiday, and we look forward to working with you in the New Year!

Thank you, Fountain City Presbyterian!

Volunteers from Fountain City Presbyterian Church in Knoxville came to stay and work with us in the beginning of November.  When they left, they left us with two reminders of how much they care: a generous donation, and a beautiful addition to our volunteer/tool-room wall!

(This photo doesn’t even do justice to the precision and detail of the plaque!)

Thanks so much, Fountain City, for your support of PCO!  We hope all of you are having a wonderful Christmas season, and that we’ll see you again someday soon!

(Click here to check out Fountain City Presbyterian Church and the Presbytery of East Tennessee.)

Thanks to Faith Presbyterian Church!

Last week we also hosted 13 volunteers from Faith Presbyterian Church in Hermitage, PA (the group that took me down to the French Quarter!  how great!).  This group helped PCO by collecting a donation prior to their arrival.

Thank you, Faith Presbyterian Church, for supporting us so many ways!  It was such a joy to have you here!

Thank You, West Sunbury!

Last week, PCO had the honor of hosting as a volunteer the wife of the late Rev Wayne Bell – a fundamental man in the history of the organization, to whom we dedicated the most recent house we finished (Gus St Dedication).  Additionally, the Bell family set up the “Wayne Bell Mission Memorial Fund” through the West Sunbury Presbyterian Church.  Through this fund, we received a generous donation to continue the work that he loved.

This donation will be used for the most recent rehab PCO has undertaken: the 11th Street project.  This home belongs to a long-time resident of Slidell, Martha* – who, four years later, still lives in her FEMA trailer.  Somehow, she had fallen through the cracks of the recovery effort.  Even though she has endured visits from caseworkers and the constant threat of losing her trailer, Martha hasn’t seen any of the assistance one would expect in return for those inconveniences.

Given the waning national interest in the rebuilding of Southeast Louisiana, funds for recovery organizations are harder to come by – and initially PCO was unsure as to whether or not we could take on this project.  But with this support of the Memorial Fund, PCO has committed itself to get Martha back into her home as soon as possible.  Martha is so thankful that the time has come for her to finally receive the help she needs.  Her faith has sustained her this far, and her patience has finally paid off.

Thank you, West Sunbury and all who have donated to the Bell Memorial Fund, for helping to make this woman’s life no longer one of suffering and rejection – for giving her attention, giving her love, and giving her back her home.

 

*Name has been changed