[StBernard] Volunteers needed

[Westley Annis]

Skilled and unskilled volunteers needed for massive conversion 

to create a St. Bernard Youth Center and picnic area 

around the Hannan High Fine Arts Building

There is a call for skilled and unskilled volunteers to help convert the
former Hannan High School Fine Arts building into a wonderful youth center
as well as build up the surrounding park and picnic area in Meraux.

Volunteers are needed for Monday, March 16 - 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.
Skilled construction and carpentry captains are needed. 

Nearly 700 volunteers are committed to help with the effort at Hannan. 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 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. The office of St. Bernard Sheriff's Jack
Stephens will be participating as well. 

On the build day, construction captains overseeing groups of 10 to 15
unskilled volunteers 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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