Thanksgiving Sign-up Form http://www.jonesbororotary.org/view.php/id/147
This year on the Gulf Coast the survivors of Katrina have suffered terrible losses, but their spirits remain bolstered by the genuine support brought by a nation determined to bring relief and hope! Each small effort multiplied many times over has grown to a bountiful harvest that will lead to recovery from the largest natural disaster in U.S. history.
Our three Rotary Clubs in Jonesboro continue to play a major role in Hancock County, Mississippi. We have been asked by the Mayor of Bay St. Louis to coordinate a Thanksgiving Day Celebration so the people of Hancock County can have their own Thanksgiving Day in 2005-the year of Katrina.
We are partnering with The Rotary Club of Bay St. Louis, Calvary Chapel Relief, and WBIR-Channel 10-Knoxville, TN to serve 7500 Thanksgiving Dinners to the people of Hancock County. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO TRAVEL TO THE COAST AND HELP!
Thanksgiving Dinner will be served at the Historic L&N Depot under the Live Oaks in downtown Bay St. Louis (this historic building was the sight of the filming of “This Property is Condemned” starring Natalie Wood and Robert Redford in 1966, it is also one of the few public buildings left in town, it is now being used as a medical clinic.)
Eddie Favre the Mayor of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi has said, “This is a day of Thanksgiving! We are counting our blessings!”
THE DETAILS
Each person will need to bring a camera, personal hygiene items, work clothes, comfortable shoes, towels, bedding or sleeping bags, soap, hand sanitizer a light jacket and toilet paper. If you have Rotary hats and shirts please bring them and wear them. Average temperatures in November – highs – 68, lows - 50.
Thanksgiving Dinner will be served Thursday, November 24 from 11 AM until..., there will be seating for 700. Take outs will be available and delivery will be made to those who still do not have transportation. Duties for our group will be assigned on site.
There will be all range of duties from light duties to more strenuous tasks so that everyone can participate.
We will need to arrive in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi by Wednesday, November 23 in the afternoon to get organized. Registration for volunteers will open at 3:00 PM at the Depot, 1928 Depot Way, Bay St. Louis, MS. When you register you will receive a volunteer shirt designed by Jonesboro artist, Sara Howell for this event, an ID badge and an information packet.
We are planning a gathering for our volunteers on Wednesday evening following dinner. We have made arrangements to use a room in the Historic Bay St. Louis Train Depot as our group's central meeting place.
We have arranged to stay at the Morrell Base Camp in Waveland. This is a brand new relief center built to house relief workers. There are clean bedrooms that sleep 4-6 barracks style on cots with mats, new showers (with hot water), restrooms and a dining area. There is no charge. We need to know how many there will be in your party so appropriate arrangements can be made.
The drive from Jonesboro is about 8 hours (approximately 470 miles) to the coast. Directions will be provided and car pooling opportunities are available. Gas is readily available on the coast.
On Friday there will be a Christmas Kid Fest at Calvary Chapel Relief Kitchen (Hot Dogs, chips, toys, Santa Claus (Mayor Favre) Etc.) We are expecting about 1000 children to participate in this event.
We hope families will join us as volunteers to make this Thanksgiving special for those less fortunate than us in 2005. This will be a rewarding trip as we will experience first hand the true meaning of Thanksgiving.
