Bingo!

We continue to offer Bingo as a way to pass the time for the evacuees out at King's Camp. About eighty people are living out at the camp from the Magnolia School located in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. The developmentally delayed adults and the staff from the school have been at King's Camp for almost a month and should return to their homes at the end of September. We served soft drinks and cookies and winners had their pick of coloring books, crayons, markers, crossword puzzle books and stuffed animals. The members of our church had as much fun watching and helping as the folks did playing.

Outreach from Old Friends

The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, in Pleasant Hill, California, sent a package of beautiful cards made by children and adults at their church. Church of the Resurrection was one of the churchs that Whit and Dawnell were involved in while in California. The church sent half the cards to St. Andrew's and the other half to Camp Hardtner for the evacuees and as way to support those of us working to help the evacuees. Their note said, "We want to let you know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Here are a few cards from our congregation with their heart felt expression. I hope some of the cards from the very little people will bring a smile to your face even if just for a moment. We felt deep anguish as we watched on TV and saw you struggles and the devestation of your communites. We hope your spirits are lifted by the support you have received from your surrounding communites and the country at large... You are loved and cared about. "

The cards sent to us will be delivered to the evacuees staying out at King's Camp.

Dinner at King's Camp

Our dinner for the evacuees at King's Camp, near Mer Rouge, was a big sucess! The group from the church meet around 5:00 p.m. and headed out with cars loaded with drinks, food and smiling faces. As we drove up, people started heading for the cafeteria. The evacuess are developmentally delayed adults and the staff that serves them. After the blessing, there was a loud, "Amen," and everyone lined up. It is hard to say how many times someone said "thank you" or "God bless you." All of the food prepared by so many of you was wonderful and we had enough to leave left-overs. We had chicken spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, peach cobbler, ice cream, cakes, cupcakes and drink. Members of St. Andrew's (both adults and children) were on hand to serve the meal and visit with the group. Many came back for seconds.

We will return again soon to host a bingo game with prizes donated by the church. This is a great time for fellowship and provide a needed break from the stress of being relocated.

Thanks to all of you for you help!

National Day of Prayer

President Bush asked all Americans to pray on Friday, September 16, 2005 for all whose lives have been touched by hurricane Katrina. We will gather that day at 6:30 p.m at St. Andrews for Evening Prayer. Please join us to pray for those who have died, those who suffer and all those who are working to help.

Feeding Evacuees in Our Area

St. Andrew's and Church of the Redeemer members will provide dinner for a group of about fifty developmentally disabled nursing home evacuees at King's Camp just outside of Mer Rouge on Wednesday night, September 14, 2005. The evacuess and the staff who serve them (about thirty workers) will have a meal of chicken spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, peach cobbler and ice cream. Thanks to all our cooks, servers and those who made financial donations!

Katrina Relief

Members of St. Andrew's and Church of the Redeemer have been busy with hurricane relief efforts. Food and clothing were delivered to the Bastrop Municipal Center for distribution. Others worked to provide a computer with internet access at the Municipal Center for evacuees to use to file necessary paperwork and check on the where-a-bouts of loved ones. Another group is working to host a Bingo game with prizes for a nursing home which was relocated to King's Camp, a local summer camp near Mer Rouge. Still others have made donations to various aid organizations and provided housing, companionship, school uniforms and hospitality to the victims of the hurricane.

Thanks to Church of the Nativity

Our brothers and sisters at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in San Rafael, California raised $2550, which was sent to the Diocese of Western Louisiana for hurricane relief. The Rector at Church of the Nativity is the Rev'd Stacey Grossman and was a classmate of Whit and Dawnell at seminary. Thanks!