Pastor offers hurricane victims a "City of Hope"
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City of Hope Relief Center at its former site in Chalmette, La.
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By Tara E. Smith
ST. BERNARD PARISH, La. – In red bold letters on a large piece of ply wood, the hand-painted sign reads, "City of Hope Relief Center." Before Hurricane Katrina, the center did not exist. Now, it offers Louisiana residents hot meals and much-needed help as families work to rebuild from Katrina’s destruction.
"My heart is to build a city of hope...that way the people can come here and have hope," said Randy Millet, center director and pastor of Adullam Christian Fellowship.
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"We hope to keep the support coming in so the people can get what they need," Pastor Millet said.
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Immediately following the storm, Millet led the community on the road to recovery by directing the disaster relief center which housed Operation Blessing's mobile kitchen unit and dental clinic, along with a myriad of other aid for the hurricane victims.
Many residents still come to the center daily in order to receive a hot meal.
"This center is a great help because when I got here, I came walking down the street and all I had were the clothes on my back. These people offered to give me food and transportation to bring me to my doorstep," said Timothy of Chalmette, La.
In April, Millet was asked to move the center from the FEMA site located in the Wal-Mart parking lot on Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette. He relocated the center to the parking lot of his church, Adullam Christian Fellowship, 7541 West St. Bernard Highway in Arabi, La., about a half mile from the former site. The church, which sustained 13 feet of water, is still undergoing repairs.
"We plan on offering an office for Operation Blessing so we can continue to take orders to gut homes and offering an office for Christ in Action to help us rebuild homes. We hope to keep the support coming in so the people can get what they need," he said.
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At his church, Adullam Christian Fellowship on West St. Bernard highway, Millet plans to install showers and house volunteers.
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In addition, Millet plans to have showers for men and women installed in order to house volunteers at his church.
"I'm expecting a huge influx of families returning home this summer and we have an opportunity to get ourselves together before school starts again," Millet said.
How You Can Help
Operation Blessing has committed to staying in New Orleans until July 2007, but we need your partnership to make it happen.
Be a part of OBI's ongoing disaster relief efforts by making an
online donation to help those affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes. For volunteer opportunities click here.
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