MEALS FOR THE HOMELESS IN NEW ORLEANS

Val Peterson and a handful of young volunteers started a feeding project in April '08 in response to the 300 or so homeless people living underneath the I-10 overpass in a tent city. They call it "Food Under Claiborne" and they serve one hot healthy meal a week to 125-200 people, at various locations. They find produce donations, but need to buy staples such as rice, beans, meat, spices, paper goods etc. Tony Sferlazza and other Plenty volunteers also help when they can. Val estimates that they spend about $30 a week to feed all those people! Along with funding for transportation and supplies, they need to buy larger pots and pans and other reusable items. Plenty is happy to support their efforts with a grant of $1,000.