Before Hurricane Katrina St
Johns #5 Baptist Church had a number of facilities designed to help low income
families, children, unwed teen mothers, and HIV victims to improve or better
cope with life in their current situation. This included 5 locations. These
locations are as follows:
The Church
We are a small fellowship located in the 7th ward. Yawl are
welcome to come worship with us.
Computer Training Center
This location had 50+ computers and other technology related
equipment for training local people and children in valuable skills needed to become self
supporting assets to their community. Problem children that were suspended or
expelled from school were required to attend this training to keep them off of
the streets until they returned to school. The center teaches computer
applications and hardware such as MCSE, A+, and MS Office applications.
Slow Learner Training Program
Housed in a separate facility, this program helped children with
learning disabilities. These children have special needs and require a
curriculum modified to suite these needs. They were taught computer basics as
well as other basic classes needed to bring them up to speed so they could join
the other children in the more advanced training courses.
Teen Mother Housing
This house held a number of unwed teen mothers that were shunned
by their families. Some of these girls were literally thrown out on the street
by their families. One of these girls is 11 years old and had no other place to
go. Having a roof over their head and a bed to sleep in is considered a luxury
to many of these people.
HIV Housing
This house is set aside for HIV victims. In many cases once
diagnosed with HIV these people are no longer welcome at home with their
families or at work on their jobs. They are treated as if this disease can be
spread just by setting in the same room. St Johns #5 Church provides these
people living quarters where they don't have to worry about being thrown out or
mistreated because of their illness.
Here Comes Katrina
In the blink of Katrina's eye these facilities were destroyed or otherwise
rendered unusable. All were damaged by flooding and some had the roofs damaged
so water came from above and below. The children, mothers, and HIV victims now
have no place to go. Some have been moved from shelter to shelter because they
are not welcome due to their illness or special needs.
Look At All This Water!
Following the flooding many people were stranded with no
way to get help. Many of these were elderly or physically unable to get out on
their own. Communications was nonexistent. Many were without food, water, and
the medicine needed to keep them alive. Some of these perished but others
survived. Screams from stranded victims could be heard in the night with no sign
of help. Even in the contaminated flood waters St Johns #5 Baptist Church did
not abandon these folks. Pastor Bruce Davenport and other members of the church waded through the
contaminated flood water hand carrying food, water, and medicine to those stranded by the
flooding.
Now We Can Use Some Help
Hazardous mold has taken over these facilities. The housing in it's current
state is unsuitable for human living. All the furniture, bedding, and kitchen
appliances have been destroyed. The majority of the computers were destroyed as
well as the other training materials, printers, software, etc. Some of the
monitors were above the water level and should be ok. Our finances all
but exhausted but we continue to provide any help we can to the people that have
stayed and are returning to the area. Daily deliveries of food, water, and
medical supplies continues using what little resources we have left. Thanks to Joe Laura of Superior Wireless a local NOLA
wireless ISP and volunteers from CA, MO, and WI
http://wispert.org/ we now have communications
via wireless internet access and VoIP phones. Common Ground Relief
http://www.commongroundrelief.org/
has brought in a few computers and is working to bring more by piecing together
parts to build working units. We now also have electrical power at the complex.
