Partners
Presbytery of South Louisiana
The New Orleans YAV Program is a mission of the Presbytery of South Louisiana. Below is the list of our present community partners.
Okra Abbey
RHINO - Rebuilding Hope in New Orleans
Program of Hope
The Okra Abbey is one of the PCUSA's new 1001 Worshiping Communities. It is a worshiping community in a Community Garden. As a YAV you will commit your time and talents in hopes that the food produced and the sacred space created in the garden will provide both physical and spiritual nourishment to the local community - especially those who are hungry and in need.
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*This Site placement is supported by the Saint Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church.
“All of these things – growing food, sharing meals and helping others in need – contribute to building healthy relationships with people. I know that if I take nothing else away from my time as a YAV in New Orleans, I will cherish the relationships that were formed." -Vincent Grossi
Originally conceived in September of 2005 in response to Hurricane Katrina, Rebuilding Hope In New Orleans (RHINO) has evolved as a life-changing ministry ever since. RHINO’s work focuses around service projects and volunteer work citywide. In the wake of the storm, the staff and congregation of St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church created RHINO as a vibrant service work organization. RHINO was designed to provide an affordable, meaningful, and coordinated vehicle for concerned citizens, friends and neighbors from all over the world to help rebuild New Orleans and restore hope throughout our community.
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Hagar's House & Project Ishmael
In 2008, First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans created the Program of Hope to respond to the needs of the people in their neighborhood who are without permanent housing. This is a holistic ministry made up of volunteers, some of whom are or have been the very clients we serve. Every Wednesday morning, the sanctuary is open from 9:00 am to 10:30 am. Guests are greeted with coffee and invited to sit and rest for awhile. The Program begins with a short devotion and prayer, after which clients access:
- Vouchers for a one-night stay at the Salvation Army
- A one-day unlimited use RTA bus pass
- A lunch of sandwich, snacks, fruit and water
- An offering of toiletries
- An offering of clothing
First Grace Community Alliance's mission is to work with and for people in need, especially women and children, by meeting food, housing and other emergency needs, while simultaneously challenging systemic poverty in the greater New Orleans area. The two main programs are Hagar's House and Project Ishmael.
Hagar’s House is a sanctuary for women, children, trans and gender-nonconforming folks that provides an open and empowering residential community, resource coordination, and a safe space to transition into sustainable housing.
Project Ishmael is a pro bono immigration legal program for children that seeks to:
1) meet some of the immigration legal needs of children in New Orleans through direct representation and education,
2) coordinate with volunteer attorneys to help meet the diverse legal needs of women and children who currently live at Hagar's House, and
3) challenge systemic injustices that allow children and their families to be separated, harassed, deported or incarcerated based on skin color or immigration status.
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Mid City Ministries
Lakeview Presbyterian Church
Berean Community Center
Mid-City Ministries is an after school tutoring program. Their mission is to form long-term relationships with underserved children, teens, and their families in the mid-city community. Mid City Ministries provides specific services which assist the academic, social, emotional and spiritual development of their students. Mid City's ultimate vision is for their students to grow into adults equipped for a positive future and motivated to use their gifts to serve a larger community.
At Lakeview Presbyterian Church, YAVs participate in and lead worship, educational, and shared community ministries, including Program of Hope, Jefferson Food Bank, Okra Abbey, RHINO, and other mission outposts. Faith and leadership development projects engage all YAVs with the life of New Orleans' area churches. Certain YAVs serve and coordinate volunteers via the church's community ministries on a weekly basis.
Berean Presbyterian Church operates the Berean Community Center across the street from the church where they supply adult and children's clothing, educational supplies and books, household items, food and fellowship, hope, love, and community programming in Central City New Orleans.
“At MidCity Ministries I have come to love working with the children, especially the youngest kids. I have tutored kids. I have developed lesson plans for all ages. I have filled in as a supervisor of the entire tutoring program. I have come home exhausted from putting up with unruly middle-schoolers. I have loved all of it.” -John Kupar
"I organize events for church members and create opportunities for members to experience mission and new parts of New Orleans. I also get to meet with partner organizations all over the city . Lakeview has provided a great space for learning about New Orleans and Volunteer Coordination."-Haley Ingram
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