Press Releases
Released on October 17, 2006
RECOVERY CORPS SUPPLIES THOUSANDS OF SCHOOL UNIFORMS FOR CHILDREN OF NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans, La., (October 17, 2006) – The Louisiana Family Recovery Corps is distributing more than16,000 uniforms to school children in New Orleans and other hurricane impacted areas. The initiative is an effort to meet the immediate needs of the families who lost so much during Hurricane Katrina. Some 14,000 were given out in the New Orleans area and another 2,000 plus are slated for distribution in St.Bernard and Plaquemines parishes.
Many of the social service organizations that traditionally provide school uniforms lost capacity after Katrina. Others are simply overwhelmed by the increased demand in the wake of the storms. Raymond A. Jetson, CEO of the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps says the organization is aggressively seeking areas of unmet needs and developing strategies to fill gaps. “Supplying school uniforms for children is just one of many ways in which we’re touching the lives of people.” After an assessment of the needs of families across the state, Jetson says it was clear the greatest need was in the City of New Orleans. “We are making this investment to assist children in getting back to school and to help with some of the truancy issues we are seeing develop.”
Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco says the Recovery Corps is staying true to its mission of helping families get back on their feet. “I recently visited students at AP Tureaud Elementary, one of our Recovery District schools in the Ninth Ward,” Governor Blanco said. “It was heartwarming to see so many students back in their classrooms. Education is one critical element that brings families back into their communities. Through its uniform program, summer programs for children, and after school programming, the Recovery Corps is playing a vital role of recovery.”
Jetson says he firmly believes utilizing local resources is key and critical to helping local people rebuild their lives. “I feel it’s important to support our local businesses in the recovery process. It is for that reason, we purchased the uniforms locally.” The Recovery Corps has also partnered with 25 organizations, including non-profits, charter schools and the recovery school district to make sure the uniforms get to those who need them most.
The Recovery Corps initially allocated funds to purchase more than 13,000 uniforms. After hearing about the Recovery Corps plan to distribute uniforms, St. Vincent DePaul’s of Baton Rouge quickly jumped on board, donating another 3,000 uniforms.
By pooling resources with St. Vincent DePaul, more than 5,000 children will be outfitted with up to three uniforms each. Non-profit organizations in New Orleans have been distributing the uniforms to families since September and will continue until they are all gone.
The mission of the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps is to recover the state’s
most precious resource…families. We connect Louisiana Citizens impacted
by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita with the resources they need to get back on their
feet, return home, and establish a quality life.
