[StBernard] Volunteers needed for renovations for a new Youth Center in St. Bernard

[Westley Annis]

Skilled and unskilled volunteers needed for massive conversion 

To create a St. Bernard Youth Center in the Hannan High Fine Arts Building

Skilled construction captains are needed for two prep days as well

There is a call for skilled and unskilled volunteers needed to help convert
the former Hannan High School Fine Arts building into a wonderful Youth
Center in Meraux.

Skilled volunteers are needed for two prep days prior to a day that already
has nearly 700 volunteers committed to help complete the Youth Center. The
volunteers, from around the country, are in New Orleans for the United
Jewish Communities National Young Leadership Conference. The conference's
theme is service, and the group chose to help St. Bernard because the
members want to be a part of helping rebuild the community.

The center's renovations are expected to make for a karate center, an
electronics game center and other activity areas for children and families.

The plan is that the center hopefully can be built on all volunteer
donations and labor. St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro Jr. has
offered parish employees the opportunity to volunteer during their work day
as a day of service as well.

Skilled construction and carpentry captains are needed to do prep work on
the second floor of the building at the Hannan High site on Saturday, March
7 and Saturday, March 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or as long as volunteers can
stay. Work will primarily consist of hanging dry wall and preparing rooms
for painting.

Monday, March 16 will be the big build day with construction captains
overseeing groups of 10 to 15 unskilled volunteers that will be painting,
building benches and planting around the site. 

Lunch and refreshments will be provided for all volunteers by the United
Jewish Communities National Young Leadership Conference. The group also has
committed to recruit others to come back to help with the recovery.

If you can volunteer as a construction captain, please call Jen
Polito-Riedel, director of Volunteer Services for St. Bernard Parish
Government, at 504-247-4327 to confirm so she can coordinate the groups they
will be leading on March 16. You may email her as well at
riedeljendeb at aol.com <mailto:riedeljendeb at aol.com> . Tools donations also
will be accepted.  

Volunteers also are looking to have Hannan High alumni and St. Bernard
residents share their stories at the build day about what our community has
been through since Hurricane Katrina.

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