Hi Everyone,
It’s Stephanie again. We just got off the phone with the New Orleans charity and are beyond excited to announce that we’ll be working with Beacon of Hope Resource Center. You can find out more about them by visiting their website: www.lakewoodbeacon.org.
Because our project is still months away we don’t have an exact description of what we’ll be working on beyond doing outdoor work (building homes, cleanups, etc.), but the most important thing that we need to know is that we’ll be giving back to the community and helping the city of New Orleans.
Information on the registration sign up will be posted next week. Hope to see you there!
John’s blog will be posted shortly 
Stephanie
Filed under: Bloggers Cruise, Travel | Tagged: beacon of hope resource center, Bloggers Cruise, New Orleans
Wonderful news, Steph!!
Exactly what I hoped we’d be able to do!!
Great job and thanks so much for all the effort you’ve put into this!!!
Host Mach
THANK YOU Stephanie, Sounds like we are off to a worthwhile and enjoyable Bloggers Cruise. I know in one day we can’t finish rebuilding New Orleans but we will make our presents known for that one day and move them that much closer to that day.
BIG ED
Thank you for all the work it took to finding us a worthwhile charity. How very exciting.
By the way, how was your birthday?
Sharon
Have tools and are ready for orders…
Mark the EvilFrog from Alabama
Thank you Stephanie for working so hard to make sure that we get to do this. I am so excited and can’t wait to hear more.
Ann
Hi Everyone,
If you are planning on attending the charity event and would like to stay at the group hotel please email me or submit a comment via the blog letting me know you will be staying at the hotel and if you will be traveling with a guest.
Thanks!
Stephanie
WOO HOO!!!
Helping out in NOLA!! Thank you for keeping us informed and up to date!!!
I’m willing and ready… someone else may have to judge if I’m able…
Lambie
Stephanie,
Was delighted to hear finally all your hardwork has resulted in a charity that has agreed to our services.
I will remember to pack some work clothes along with my formal wear.
Charlotte
Stephanie,
Because some of us are coming in early,
I know some of us already have booked hotel rooms, how will we get to the site?
Congrads. Stephanie sounds great. I love that city, so much charm and soul.Bug and I will do what we can. Hope you had a grand birthday.
Stephanie:
THANKS! Great job!!!
Linda (Wife of David still rolling on the floor in laughter at the thought of me doing physical labor)
Stephanie: (forgot to tell you)
David, DJ and I will be there!!
Just let us know where to make the reservations whenever the “group” hotel is selected.
THANKS!!
(Husband still rolling on the floor in laughter over me doing physical labor)
NYSchauer:
The Quarter is all very close together…so probably whichever hotel is selected for the “group” will be within walking (or a trolley ride) away from your hotel. I know lots of folks have already made reservations. They will simply have us “meet up” somewhere and head out from there.
Linda
Stephanie you have worked so hard on this and thank you!
Stephanie,
I am not sure if we will make it in on Friday before the ship leaves, but would like to know what the group hotel is and the times of the event.
Great! Don and I will gladly help out with the charity work. Regarding the hotel, we have reservations at the Holiday Inn Superdome, but we’re flexible about that.
Job well done!
Steph…
Nice to hear the charity has been settled on, and other details have been falling into place.
I’ve been delaying planning events and sending out emails to the almost 200 booked in the CruiseMates group, until we got more details from you and John.
Many of our group have booked hotel rooms already, but I’m sure most will want to contribute their time to assist LakeWoodBeacon.
Lots of us are coming in Feb. 5, so we’re going to plan a get together that evening to kick things off.
Thanks for your efforts, and we’ll await more news on the charity day, and event for the evening of Feb. 6.
Our group is beginning to perk with excitement, that’s for sure!
Regards,
Kuki
CruiseMates.com
Stephanie, what are the group hotel details (name, location, etc)?
Ann
Great news John.
The week following us they have 50-150 volunteers from the Innovate to Motivate Conference doing yard work and debris clean up.
Lets see if we can exceed those numbers.
Phil & Liz
Stephanie, We intedn to be there to help anyway we can. Sign us up. Jeri and Larry Green
Stephanie, We intend to be there to help anyway we can. Sign us up. Jeri and Larry Green
Hi Stephanie,
As I’ve posted before, I’m in New Orleans and want to participate in all activites. I also have a big car so could possibly help move people or items needed to work. Just add my name to the lists. I won’t be staying at the hotel but live across the river so it is easy for me to “pop” over.
PennyB
Stephanie, great news!! Thanks for all of the time and hard work that you have put into this event. See you in New Orleans.
Hi John,
I couldn’t help but notice that Beacon of Hope was founded by a couple of residents of an area called Lakewood South.
Lakewood South is where my Mother lived at the time the levees broke. My sister’s house was in Lakeview, an area not that far away. As soon as we were allowed, we, including sister and nieces went in to salvage what we could from the houses.
We sold what was left of Mom’s house to some nice people who spent a lot of money rebuilding it better than ever and are now living there – not like those who bought on speculation.
The only thing that would help my sister’s house was a bulldozer which was eventually called in after salvaging.
For those wondering, all of the New Orleans tourist areas and convention areas are fine and have been for some time. You can visit New Orleans, have a great time, and never see any of the devastation that still remains. There is still plenty to see and do and more restaurants are open now than before Katrina!
There is still years of work left to do. But it is getting done. Slowly, but surely. Many thanks to the number of volunteers who still continue to help.
I have no idea how many bloggers will volunteer or what task they will end up with, but every bit helps and brings the city a little closer to complete recovery.
For any who are interested, here are some pictures of my Mom’s house before Katrina:
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/katrina/kat_pre_mom.htm
When we were first allowed back in:
Mom’s house
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/katrina/kat_mom.htm
Sister’s house
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/katrina/kat_sis.htm
I decided I wanted to get a closer look at what tried to kill my city. Where the levee broke on the 17th Street Canal:
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/katrina/nola_gnd_zero.htm
After we had recovered what we could think of and called the strippers in:
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/katrina/kat_fine_mom.htm
But it is not all doom and gloom. Here are some pictures from New Orleans New Year’s Eve, 2005 – just a few months after Katrina:
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/nola_nye_2005/nola_nye_05_1.htm
And again, from NYE 2007 – I don’t think any more people could have fit in the French Quarter:
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/nola_nye_2007/p1.htm
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/nola_nye_2007/p2.htm
Something associated with New Orleans that we all know and love – FOOD!
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/nola/food/food.htm
Think I need to schedule another trip soon so I can get my fix!
Thanks yall!
P.S. Wasn’t sure where to put this, but Carnival helped with some temporary shelter for the first responders. Two Carnival ships in New Orleans just look so natural!
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/katrina/kat_carn/kat_carn.htm
Hi John/Heidi/Stephanie:
Thanks for the good news and all the hard work you’ve put into this.
Looking forward to hearing more.
Take care,
David
We’re on board for both the cruise and the pre-cruise activities. Sign us up for everything!
We’re on-board for the cruise and pre-cruise events. Sign us up for everything.
Need info on where and wwhen to sign on. Beacon Of Hope has our forms. We will volunteering with them for 4 days while we are in N.O.