COMMUNITY CENTER

COMMUNITY CENTER
OF ST BERNARD
A Community Networking Resource
Annual Report 2009

Our Mission
The Community Center of St Bernard is a grassroots nonprofit organization
that serves survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in St Bernard Parish,
Louisiana, and the surrounding area. The Community Center's efforts
are focused on empowering families who want to rebuild their lives after
Hurricane Katrina by providing them with direct local access to the factual
information and practical resources they need in a safe and all-inclusive
setting.
Essential free services available to residents at the Community Center of
St Bernard include internet computers, public phones, legal aid, medical
assistance, hot meals, food pantry, clothing bank, books, prenatal care,
Road Home assistance, disaster preparation, advocacy for the disabled,
senior citizen employment training, and computer classes.
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Letter from the Executive Director
My name is Iray Nabatoff. Although I am a native of New Hampshire, I am also the founder
and volunteer Executive Director of the Community Center of St Bernard in Arabi, Louisiana.
I first came to New Orleans from Acworth, NH during January 2006, expecting to stay about 3
weeks. After volunteering at the Made with Love Café relief kitchen located in Arabi, directly
next door to New Orleans Lower Ninth Ward, and seeing first-hand the devastation caused by
the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, I made a long-term commitment to helping with
the recovery effort.
More than four years after hurricane Katrina, my goal is to continue to raise awareness about
the true state of the recovery effort here in St Bernard Parish. This area was at the epicenter of
devastation from Katrina. Located adjacent to New Orleans, St Bernard is the only Parish
(county) in the history of our country to have been completely inundated by flood waters —
93% of homes in the parish were rated as “severely damaged” or “destroyed”. And hurricane
damage to the Murphy Oil Refinery here caused the largest domestic residential oil spill in US
history.
Yet in spite of all that has happened here, St Bernard Parish remains largely unknown outside of
the immediate area. Though numerous celebrities and aspiring politicians (Oprah, Amy Goodman,
Brad Pitt) have come to New Orleans, they don’t venture beyond the Lower Ninth Ward,
so they remain in the dark about the lives and struggles of the people in St Bernard directly next
door, separated only by the Jackson Barracks.
At the Community Center, I work every day to serve people still caught up in the ongoing
struggle to rebuild their lives. The Community Center’s efforts are focused on empowering returning
families by providing them with free local access to the factual information and practical
resources they need. In order to effectively fulfill this mission, the community Center works
to form alliances with a variety of recovery resource agencies from across the greater New Orleans
5-parish area.
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This regional networking approach, termed the Community Connections Model, is being developed
as a template for other intermediate- to long-term disaster response agencies that need to
assist clients after the initial shock of the catastrophe has passed, but while crucial sections of
social infrastructure (public transport, schools, libraries, hospitals) are only minimally functional
and in the process of being rebuilt.
There remains so much to be done here -- for many of the clients we serve, this is NOT a recovery
but merely a later stage in an ongoing crisis. The current focus on home rebuild efforts
tends to overshadow the harsh reality that putting people back in a house does not mean that
those people are now independent or self-reliant. Too often, newly-rehoused families are coming
to the Community Center for something as basic as having enough food for their children,
or clothes to wear.
In short, it is the relief agencies like the Community Center who bear the burden of helping
those families with essentials like food, clothes and hot meals, week in and week out, long after
the rebuild groups have taken down their “Welcome Home” banners and moved on.
Sincerely,
R.M. "Iray" Nabatoff
Executive Director,
Community Center of St Bernard
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2009 Results
In order to effectively fulfill our mission of providing necessary recovery services to hurricane
survivors, the Community Center has taken a unique two-fold approach. In addition
to being a direct service provider (food pantry, clothing bank, hot meals, books,
public phones, internet access & computer training), the Community Center works to
form alliances with a variety of resource agencies from across the greater New Orleans
5-parish area rather than attempting to meet all needs ourselves. We provide these
partner agencies with client-meeting space at our centralized location in St Bernard
Parish, thereby avoiding duplication of services while facilitating the ability of local residents,
many of whom still have limited transportation options in the wake of the disaster,
to become aware of and access the many types of assistance that are available to
them.
Our networking-based method of providing services allows the Community Center
maximal flexibility so that we can readily adapt our available services to meet the
changing needs of our clients as the recovery progresses. This regional networking
strategy is being developed as a model for other intermediate- to long-term disaster
response agencies that need to assist clients after the initial shock of the catastrophe
has passed, but while crucial sections of social infrastructure (public transport, schools,
libraries, hospitals) are only minimally functional and in the process of being rebuilt.
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Mustard Seed Distribution Program: This program addresses
emergency needs by supplying free food, household supplies, hygiene
products, and clothes to low-income residents. During 2009,
the Mustard Seed Food Pantry provided 257,959 lbs of food to
2,520 low income families (6,656 individuals), including 2,065 children
ages 17 & under. 47% of these families have a head of
household who is unemployed; 33% contain a physically or mentally
disabled individual; 29% are headed by single parents.
And 98% of these families are making less than $25,000 per year.
In fact, 62% of them are struggling to survive on less than $10,000
annually.
The Mustard Seed Distribution also gave out 4,224 personal hygiene items,
2,750 household items, and 649 medical items. And more than 200 families
received free clothes at the Mustard Seed Clothing Bank every week.
Hot Meals: During 2009, the Community Center served 4,283 free hot
meals to area residents.
Media Lab: The Media Lab offers free internet access, computer
classes, faxing, copying and phone services to enable residents to
seek employment, keep in contact with family members, and find applicable
federal, state and local aid programs. The media lab has 10
internet-connected computers with free printing, as well as 3 phone
lines that clients can use for free local and long-distance calling. Each
weekday an average of 19 residents use the phone, 8 residents use
the copier and 2 use the fax send or receive service. During 2009, a
total of 9,021 sessions were logged on the media lab computers, and
157 residents signed up for free basic computer classes.
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Referrals: During 2009, the Community Center passed
out 28,693 informational flyers, forms and brochures to help
clients find the help they needed. Office staff also made
3,231 referrals.
Community Building Events: During 2009,
the Community Center of St Bernard was the
site for more than 120 social events including
holiday celebrations, workshops, seminars,
yoga classes, bingo nights, and kids arts &
crafts sessions.
Thanksgiving 2009: This year the food pantry provided Thanksgiving
baskets and canned goods to 340 low-income families so
that more than 1,100 local residents could enjoy a festive holiday
meal at home with family and friends.
Toy GiveAway 2009: More than 1,100 toys were given out to 369
children at the annual Holiday Celebration and Toy GiveAway. 60%
of these children were from low-income families that participate in
the Community Center’s Mustard Seed Program. 83% of the families
who attended the event were from St Bernard Parish, with the
remainder coming mainly from Orleans and Jefferson Parishes.
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Partner Agencies
Specific partner agencies who provided services at the Community Center of St
Bernard during 2009 include:
• St Anna's Medical Mission (general medical care)
• Talk It Out Van (emotional counseling)
• American Red Cross, St Bernard Chapter (disaster preparedness)
• Daughters of Charity of New Orleans Mom & Baby Mobile Health Care Center
(prenatal care)
• Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (legal aid)
• Louisiana Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support (food stamps)
• Road Home (rebuild assistance)
• Families Helping Families of SE LA (advocacy for the disabled)
• Jefferson Parish Council on Aging (senior citizen employment training)
• Swan River Yoga (yoga classes)
• Louisiana Spirit (crisis counseling and emotional support)
• Milestones Mental Health Agency (children’s mental health support)
• St Bernard Health Center (nutrition and healthy lifestyle workshops)
• Rebuilding Information Station (rebuilding information for homeowners)
• Loyola University New Orleans College of Law (income tax preparation)
• Michigan State University College of Law (income tax preparation)
• Catholic Charities (income tax preparation)
• US Census Bureau (job testing)
• Greater New Orleans Covering Kids and Families (Medicaid & LaCHIP enrollment)
• Law Offices of Marc R. Michaud (debt collection information)
• BlueStone Ministries (case management)
Photography © Charles Silver
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2009 Donors & Supporters
The Community Center of St Bernard appreciates that every contribution makes a difference in the lives
of the families we serve, and we are grateful to acknowledge the following individuals and organizations
for their generous support during 2009:
Oscoda Plastics, Inc
Cintas Corporation
Operation Backpack/Abby Furfaro
Snake & Jake’s
Cold Stone Creamery
Yes We Can
Blue Cypress Books
Storyville New Orleans
SDT Waste & Disposal
Luis Colmenares
WWOZ
WGNO
WNOL
WDSU
Organizing For America
Woolard Family Foundation
America’s Biggest Loser
Andrew Jackson Lodge F&AM No 428
Randy Odinet
Superior Wireless
New Orleans Musicians Clinic
ReliefSpark
Celebration Church
MissionLab
Los Islenos Heritage and Cultural Society
Serving St Bernard
The ToyBank
Antique Auto Club of St Bernard
Young Leadership Council
Literacy Alliance of Greater New Orleans
Sara Roahen
Renaissance Gardens
Nw Orleans food & Farm Network
Voices of Louisiana
Sean Callebs, CNN
BlueStone Ministries
Old Arabi Neighborhood Assn
The Gathering
Peace Out Productions
Delgado Community College
Nunez Community College
Anthony & Jana Barry
Franklin W. Nelson
Kevin & Tara Weidenbaker
J William & Barbara Carswellk
Crystal Wells
Jeff & Susan Botkin
Jason & Haley Davee
Jonathon & Toni Farrell-Higgins
Monty & Laura Smith
William & Shelley Horwitz
Trudy Totorico
St Bernard Health Center
Rian Kistner
Frederick Sigur, Jr
Noto Law Firm, LLC
Bethel Reinhard
Lighthouse Pentecostal Church
Dollar General Stores Inc
New Orleans Saints
Fradella’s Collision Center, Inc
KW Wendling, LLC
South Congregational Church
Carloyn Jerard
Albert Demko
Yolanda Brown
Home Depot
Mindy Nunez Airhart
Southern Services & Equipment, Inc
Noble & Greenough School
Potts & Potts, APLC
Albert Dempco
Virgina Folsum Family
Kissee & Co, CPA’s
Sam’s Club Stores
Clements Insurance Services
Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Assn,
Inc
The Salvation Army
Dalio Family Foundation
Rev Dr & Mrs John Henry Spaulding
Cherie Waguespack
Earnhardt Toyota/Scion
Jaime & Adriana Merrifield
Carolyn Calato
Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc
Kathleen Baker
Judy Strauser
North Middlesex Regional High School
Lynn Joachim
St Bernard Council on Aging
Catholic Charities
Deanna & Michael Perrson
Congregation Beth El of Rochester NY
Dana Knee
Kiersten Marshall
Dawn Pipitone
United Jewish Communities, Western
Region
Christina Spohn
Carmel Dembrun
Linda Keller
Eugenie & Joseph Jones Family
Foundation
Nuri Munis
Tanja Munis
Gary Allen
St Bernard Volunteers for Family &
Community
Lynda Keller
Violet Discount Meat Market Ltd
Riess Auto Title
Knights of Columbus, Archbishop
Rummel Council #5747
Jimmy’s Kids of St Bernard
Steve Gonzales
Aimee Shultz
The Fellowship Center
Mr & Mr James P Schwartzhoff
Tisha Marechal Musgrave
TASRC/Domino
James Madison University
Eva Blankenship
Mindy Cochran
Jones River Landing Environmental
Heritage Center
Mr & Mrs Paul C Newfield III
North Middlesex Service Learning
Ginny Goff
Marianne Schorer
Cheer Up International
Chalmette Refining, Inc
Lula Fotis
Leroy Delise
Jesuit High School, Sacramento
John Castellano
Anthony Noto
Deborah Jan Fagan Planning services
Jane Jones
Full force Dance Company
St Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Dept
Turner/Consumer Marketing
Santa on the Bayou
Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Carol Schiavone
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Co
Harrah’s Foundation
Katie Ferris
Pam Uhle
Pelican State Credit Union
Rosemary Gioia
St Bernard Chamber of Commerce
Todd’s Technology, Inc
Weight Watchers, St Bernard Chapter
Furnishing Our Neighbors Foundation
Gayle & Tom Benson Charitable
Foundation
World Hunger Year, Inc
United Way
Louisiana Children’s Museum
Resurrected Life Community Church
Goodsearch
Emergency Food & Shelter Program
William L. Brown
Jefferson Council on Aging, Inc
Network for Good
Entergy
Camp Hope 3/St Bernard Parish Dept of
Volunteerism
Share our Strength
GE foundation
Union Pacific Foundation
Lifecare, Inc
Carol Borne
Cheryl Galland
Brewster’s
Winn Dixie Stores Foundation
Hands On New Orleans, Inc
ELCA
Dominion Foundation
Baptist Community Ministries
Church World Service
Rocky & Carlo’s
Mary Benfatti
Philip Riedel
Carolyn Park Presbyterian Church
Chris Lisi
David Gang
Richard Virgin
Danielle Virgin
Nancy Matherly
Donald Blevins
Mia Mooney
ARC of New Orleans
Bayou Rebirth
New Orleans Marriott
Alexander James
MeathouseBeats
Adam Goldsmith
MySonsMom123
AR Wagner
Robin H Schneider
Schneider Paper Products
Jessica Edge
PakWrap
Christine Garfield
Peter Munson
Josephine Merck
Shirley Ruhe
Jessica Gabriel
Sharon Ceamate
Peter Keyes
Stella Giveans
Bethany Garfield
Bruce Cameron
Agnes Corpus
Palash Bhattacharya
Thomas Ahl
Justin & Mindy Airhart
Neil Arabia
Ashlee Ancalade
Tulane University
Resurrection Life Community Church
Charlene Champagne
Shoemaker Chiropractic
Living Cornerstone Church Intl
Rain CII Carbon LLC
Versailles Plantation Neighborhood Assn
NP Trist Middle School
St Bernard Parish Government
Joseph Davies Elementary School
Curves of St Bernard
Law Offices of Sidney D Torres III
Louisiana Spirit
Courtesy Discount House
Arabi Food Store & Café
My Three Sons Electrical
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Financials
.
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2009 Board of Directors
.
BRUCE CONLAY, CHAIRMAN
CHRIS ANDRY, VICE-CHAIRMAN
MANDI THOMPSON, SECRETARY
D. SKYLAR ROSENBLOOM, TREASURER
CLAUDE ROME
GEORGE BARISICH
MARK MADARY
LT. COL. DAVID DYSART
MANAGEMENT
R.M. “Iray” Nabatoff, Executive Director
Sharon S. Ober, PhD, Development Director
Bethany Garfield, Mustard Seed Coordinator
William Brown, AmeriCorps VISTA,
Digital Arts Service Corps
Dianne Leftridge, Administrative Assistant
Bryan Ritter, Food Pantry Assistant
Elaine Dominio, Clothing Bank Assistant
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