Katrina Relief in Austin

From Chris Plummer, Executive Director of Community New Start in Austin, Texas (http://www.newstartaustin.org/) :


Dear Redeemer Family,

As we all are aware, Austin has become the new home to some 7,000 former Louisiana and surrounding area residents. In the wake of the confusion surrounding who was going where for assistance, we very quickly found ourselves as a city coping with the undertaking of absorbing folks into the various communities that are a part of Austin. As the churches, non-profits and city/state organizations continued to prepare and seek guidance for the next steps, Community New Start (CNS) and Redeemer Presbetyrian Church (RPC) have found ourselves with some 100 families who have moved into the St. John’s community.

On Wednesday, CNS was informed that the Hearthside Extended Stay hotel at the corner of St. John’s Avenue and IH-35, threw open their doors to families coming out of the Convention Center. Foundation Communities, a CNS partner non-profit housing organization, owns the building and was in the process of renovating the building for low-income housing; they have welcomed CNS in to help them provide assistance to these families. Currently, there are 95 families housed in the 138 rooms of the hotel (with another 5 families expected before the end of the weekend), representing approximately 250 people from New Orleans. We are approximating numbers because the intake information is still being gathered. There are well over 100 children in this mix, ranging from birth to 17. CNS is actively assessing our role, and the role of those churches with whom we are partnered. Several of the children will be absorbed into Pickle Elementary, Webb Middle School, and Reagan High School.

However because of overcrowding in these schools, many of the kids are having to be transported to other schools. To date, AISD is still not completely sure where all of the children will attend. The CNS after-school program, Smart Start, will also be available to the children at Hearthside. We aren’t sure how this will work out or where it will happen, but we are continuing to learn more each hour and hope to have an additional Smart Start entity up and running very quickly.

... [list of particular needs]

The list gets as long as our imaginations, though these are the needs as we see them at the present time. We will coordinate with you as you assess your unique abilities to help so that we are responsive to you as well as the community here in St. John’s.

Karen Parchman, the CNS Renewal Team Director, had the opportunity to spend some time yesterday with “Jeremy,” a 17 year-old who was sitting outside eating fried chicken. "I sat on the pavement next to him as he told me about his desire to get a work permit and find a job. He’s ready to put down roots in Austin, and says he really likes it here. I asked him about school. 'Yes ma’am, I want to go to Reagan,' he said. Allen Weeks, the CNS Community Coordinator, is the cross-country coach, and he asked if Jeremy would want to run. 'No, sir, I want to play in the band. That’s what I did back home. I want to play in the band. My grandma would want that. She’s deceased. I want to honor her by staying in the band.' His eyes filled with tears; the opportunity to grieve hasn’t happened for most of these new Austinites. The time is coming when they will need a compassionate shoulder, and a few words of Christ’s grace, mercy and kindness. Thanks to you for all your willingness to share the love of Christ in this particular manner to give these folks a new start."

Please contact me, and/or Bill Peacock, if you have any questions or need further clarity.

In Christ,

Chris Plummer
RPC Deacon & CNS Executive Director

For more information, please visit: http://www.newstartaustin.org

Scooter