Happy New Year -- 2010

CLICK HERE to view photos of the Poor Man's Supper 2009 taken by The Shreveport Times photographer, Douglas Collier.

“Pause for the Poor”

For nearly forty years, Christian Service has sponsored its annual “Poor Man’s Supper.” The spirit of this event is to emulate the experience of the less fortunate, by serving a simple "soup kitchen" meal of soup and bread, and to project a greater awareness of the plight of the poor and underserved in this country.

The supper serves as a fundraiser for Christian Service and as the presentation venue for the “Sister Margaret McCaffrey Award,” which was presented in 2009 to Dr. Robert Jackson and the Martin Luther King Jr. Health Center. The Health Center was co-founded by Dr. Robert Jackson and by Sister Margaret in 1986. Local entertainment will be featured.

Last year's event was also intended to mark special recognition of the tenth anniversary of Sister Margaret McCaffrey’s death. Organizers observed a record attendance at the 2009 event. Local celebrities and elected officials were recruited to help. They donned aprons and took on the roles of the ‘Soup Servers.’

Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover, in conjunction with, Bossier Mayor Lo Walker and the Caddo Parish Commission proclaimed November 2009 as “Pause for the Poor Month” in Shreveport-Bossier and in Caddo Parish.

Bro. Giovanni Reid is the Christian Service Program Executive Director, and Sister Sharon Rambin is our Board of Directors Chairperson.

Make a secure, online donation to Christian Service

From Brother Giovanni Reid, O.F.M

 

New Things in Store for Christian Service in 2010

Brother Giovanni asks that anyone interested in volunteering with Christian Service Program, please do so.  We are in need of bookkeepers and generally all kinds of people persons.  If you are interested in simply keeping in touch with elderly people in our community this winter, we can use your help.  Contact us at (318) 221-4857 for more information.

"Thank You" to all our loyal members who stuck by us this year. We could not have done it all without your help. I want to announce some changes we have made for the upcoming year.

In order to improve the effectiveness of our work, the Christian Service Program has hired a special person whose qualifications match the remedy for the services needed of our clients. We are proud to have him on board with us and I want to introduce him to you, our members. We feel he will be an asset and a good fit for what we have planned in the year 2010.

Louis Leritte, Christian Service Program Maintenance. Louis has demonstrated a long record of mechanical abilty and excellent service.

Christian Service has several new initiatives and a few old ones that address specific issues that are still plaguing us on a community level. Many of these issues have been identified through the client-base that we serve. Some of the issues come from an internal need to help us better serve our clients. The Christian Service Program Learning Center has several internet computers available for individuals over 18 years of age. A picture ID is required for all participants. Please contact us in advance to make your appointment. You may call (318) 221-4857 or (318) 219-5807 to get more information about the Christian Service Program Learning Center.

Christian Service 2009 Telethon

Our annual Christian Service Telethon for 2009 aired Sunday, December 6 from 12:00 noon and 6:00 pm on Comcast City Wide TV, cable channel 6.

This event is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and every year we count on the support of all our members and friends. We especially thank Comcast for their generous donation of facilities, staff, and airtime.

If you missed the Telethon program, you may still donate securely, online using PayPal. Or you can mail us a donation card and check, or use your credit card. For more details, or for other ways to make a gift to Christian Service, see our Donate page or find the "Donations" section on last page of any recent newletters from Christian Service Program. Our newsletter is called "The Good News."

Please also enjoy the narrative The Purpose of our Rainbow by Sister Margaret from 1988.

• Affordable Housing This is still a very serious issue in Caddo Parish. We are concerned with affordable housing for the single parent with children, for persons with special needs, and for our senior citizens.
• Literacy Staggering numbers of adults still do not have reading and writing comprehension. We want to implement positive change and identify and then attack the barriers to adult learning.
• Technology Literacy Computers are a gateway to information. Although we will still have books, we are living in a digital age; therefore we endeavor to make technology learning fun not fearful.  Please contact Telesa Mitchell, Brother Giovanni Reid, or Tim Snell by calling (318) 221-4857 or (318) 219-5807 for information about workshops for 2010 at the Christian Service Program's Learning Center (1200 Sprague Street.) Usually small and individualized, task-based sessions help adults feel more comfortable with computers. 
• Senior Employment Employment for supplemental wage earners on fixed incomes is vital to improving the dignity of independent living for senior citizens.
• Service Learning This provides student mentoring opportunities for Christian Service future wage earners.
• Life Skills Training This includes health and safety education (HIV, TB, and other health topics).

For more updates on our mission and programs to assist the poor, please read our latest newsletter (PDF), or call our main office (318) 221-4857.

• Click Here to play a one minute excerpt on "Hope" from Sister Margaret's 1988 archives.
Check this website for newly released audio clips from Sister Margaret's audio notes. The audio should open in a new window or new tab in your browser. Click the "back" button on your browser if necessary to return to the Christian Service Program's webpages when you finish listening to the audio selection.
• Beginning Christian Service Program in 1970 is 2 minutes long excerpt from Sister Margaret's tapes.
• Beginnings (part 2) is 4 minutes.

Brother Giovanni Reid, O.F.M. is the Executive Director of the Christian Service Program