New Year's Safety Tips

Please consider these New Years' Safety tips when going out this New Years' Eve. These are courtesy of John Longoria, Program Manager of our Family Resource Center, which provides services to families and children who have been identified as at risk by various collaborative state agencies.

New Years’ Eve is a huge night for everyone—crowds will be swarming toward all the metropolitan hubs around the world. People feed off each others' excitement, and sometimes things can get out of hand if safety precautions are not taken. Everyone wants to have an unforgettable night (in a good way!). By simply using some common sense, we can keep it that way. Ring in the New Year safely!

· Designate a Driver: If you are going to be driving New Years’ Eve, don't drink and drive. If you have a friend who prefers not to drink, make sure they take the wheel. You might even be on the water this New Years Eve. The person in charge of navigating the boat needs to be cautious - this still applies to them! It is important to be safe on the water as well, so drink sensibly.

· Don't forget about your pets! They are just as much a part of the family as everyone else. If you are using fireworks, anything with loud noises, or fire, be sure that pets are kept at a distance as well as children. None of these are a good mix. There may be some children and/or pets that are extremely frightened by fireworks. If so, make sure they have a “safe-place” to go. Candles are also a potential hazard.

· Be Alert: Be aware of your surroundings and how others are acting. Stay away from those who are out of control and might cause harm. Taking preventive measures is key. If someone is really intoxicated, prevent them from trying to drive or leaving with someone they do not know. It's important to keep an eye out for each other.

· Don't Drive: If you don't have to go behind the wheel, avoid it. More people will be driving under the influence on this particular night, so avoid a potentially dangerous accident by staying off the road. Otherwise, be alert and drive defensively. Most importantly, wear your seatbelt! Also, using public transportation is a wise option. If taking a cab is too expensive, crashing at a friend's place nearby is a convenient solution.

· Stick Together: This way we can look out for our friends and family. Going out to parties and nightclubs means a fast-paced, crazy night; so be sure to travel in groups. Having a safety net around you in this environment, especially for women, is imperative.

· Monitor your Alcohol Intake: A majority of people will be drinking on New Years Eve, and there is nothing wrong with that. Just be sure to pay attention to how much you and others are consuming. Drinking too much alcohol can have lethal affects. Be responsible. Also, drinking on an empty stomach significantly increases the effects of alcohol.

· Fireworks – If fireworks are legal in your community and you decide to partake, make sure that directions for use are followed directly. Do not use fireworks in any manner that may pose a threat to others or to others’ property. Children should not be using fireworks, but if they are, this should be done ONLY under the supervision of a responsible adult.

· Gunfire – UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, regardless whether you are in an urban or rural setting, is it appropriate to shoot any kind of weapon in the air or at any other target – especially since it is likely that alcohol or other mood inhibiting substances are being used.

Lighthouse After School Program Kids on the Silver Screen

Recently, children from our Lighthouse After School Program have been involved in the filming of “The Power of Few” right here in New Orleans. These youth include Anntoria Spellman, Tione Johnson, and Lillian Chaney. Anntoria and Lillian, students at Thurgood Marshall Early College High School, have been enrolled in Lighthouse for 2 years, while Tione is a summer 2010 Lighthouse alum and student at Martin Luther King Charter school.

“The Power of Few” is described as a “an urban tale about cloning and terrorism told from five different perspectives” and will also feature Christopher Walken and Christian Slater alongside our Lighthouse starlets. Congratulations Anntoria, Tione, & Lillian!

Our Lighthouse After School program provides after school and summer programs for pre-adolescent children and their families to promote academic achievement and good moral character.

Supported Living Services' Christmas Party

Our Supported Living Services program (which helps persons with disabilities to live independently) held its annual Christmas party last night, December 9, at Lake Shore Playground Community Room. Among the audience of 75 were SLS consumers, their personal care assistants, and program facilitators.

Consumers were treated to great food, great company, and a DJ! Everyone had a blast while "twisting the night away".

Ronald's Story

Meet Ronald, a resident of our Canal Street Single Room Occupancy facility. Ronald is a Northshore native and son of a successful restaurateur there. He led a straightforward life in his youth as a member of the Navy Hospital Corps during the Vietnam War. While with the Navy Hospital Corps, Ronald served as a surgical medic, lab scientist, and worked in emergency search and rescue.

Upon returning from Vietnam, Ronald developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and began drinking as a result of his anxiety and depression. He attempted to maintain his career, working 5 years after his return from the service, but after a car wreck he moved home and began drinking on and off, “always at the wrong time”.

“The story of my life is caring for others”, says Ronald, and he’s cared for both of his parents as they entered their senior years. Following the death of his father, who he was helping his mother to care for, he began drinking chronically, leaving his job.

Ronald struggled with his alcohol addiction until April of 2005, when at the behest of his sister in law he began receiving treatment. The storm interrupted his treatment, and he evacuated to Omaha; when he was finished, he was connected with our Duvernay Residence, which offers permanent affordable housing, case management, and employment services for formerly homeless people in recovery.

Ronald just celebrated his fourth anniversary at Duvernay. He says of his experiences there – “I’m excited to be at Duvernay. It’s very welcoming and has helped me become self-sufficient”.

For his future, Ronald wants to continue to be more self-sufficient, help others, take inventory of himself, plan for life, and find a part-time retirement job for supplemental income.

We are proud to have individuals like Ronald among those we serve.

Edmund's Story

(This is a speech given by Edmund, who receives services from our Supported Living Services program. Supported Living Services helps persons with disabilities to live independently).

My name is Edmund and I am 64 years old. I was born and raised right here in New Orleans.

I lived with my mother for most of my life. When my mother passed away, I needed help. I needed transportation to buy food and I needed help to do that. I needed someone to get me to the doctor for my appointments. I needed someone to help me buy clothes. I needed a place to live. I found Volunteers of America.

That was fifteen years ago. I first lived in one of Volunteers of America’s Community Homes. It was nice there. They cooked for us, cleaned for us and provided me with transportation everywhere I needed to go.

After a while, I wanted to live in my own apartment, so the staff at Volunteers of America helped me. I found a nice apartment in Metairie and I really liked it....but when Hurricane Katrina hit, my apartment was flooded.

Volunteers of America helped me find another apartment. This apartment is really nice - it's also in Metairie.

Felicia, my personal care assistant with Volunteers of America, stays with me on Saturday and Sunday. Nikida stays with me from 7 at night until 7 in the morning.

Paul is with me from 7 in the morning until 7 at night. Paul is really more like family to me. We go to Barnes and Noble, lunch at Applebees (I like their hamburgers), and the Metairie Senior Center to play cards. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have Volunteers of America….or Paul. I love Paul like a brother.

I like to read. I have a subscription to Sports Illustrated. The Saints, of course, are my favorite football team, but my favorite quarterback is Big Ben with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sorry, Drew!

I am a happy man and I have a good life. Thanks to Volunteers of America, I am able to live independently in my own apartment. And I am blessed to have great people help me to do that. I’m proud of who I am and I am proud to stand here and tell you about my life and how Volunteers of America has helped me.

Thank you for coming tonight and thank you for supporting Volunteers of America. It's because of people like you that I am able to stand here and talk about how blessed I am.

May God Bless You All.

Volunteers of America's Holiday Food Drive

Click here to see WGNO's coverage of Dorian Rawles, our Assistant Vice President of Programming, talking about Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans's holiday food drive! Call Evie Simmons at our Veterans' Transitional Housing facility - 504.899.1116 - for more information.