Guardian Angel Gazette - Archive

October/November~ Volume 6, Issue 14
Guardian Angel
Gazette
The Official Newsletter for Angels’ Place
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!! Angels’ Place sends out peace, love
and joy to all our blessed volunteers and supporters who make Angels’ Place
possible. You are our “hearts and hands of love” for the special children we are
honored to serve in our community.
Inside This Issue:
2
Volunteer/Family
Corner/Volunteer
Information
3
In The Spotlight
4
Wing Claps
Gifts, donations, services
from the community
5
Memorials
In memory of loved ones
6
Opportunities
And Memorials
7
Events
8
Gifts From the Heart
www.angelsplace.org
email us at:
office@angelsplace.org
Many people ask, “What exactly is Angels’ Place?” We are Louisiana’s first
children’s respite care center, a nonprofit agency providing a variety of services
to children with life-threatening illnesses, their siblings and caregivers. We provide free volunteer respite visits to seriously ill children and help for the exhausted caregivers within our community. Working with Louisiana’s Children’s Special Health
Services, we also offer skilled nursing and medical respite care to a select group of families.
“What is our ultimate “vision”? Angels’ Place Children’s House!! Angels’ Place House will
be a community home that offers a peaceful home-like setting that offers families short-term
respite from the exhausting responsibilities of caring for a child living with a life-threatening
health condition. Also, our home will offer a peaceful environment and compassionate staff
support for a child’s end-of-life care.
“How can I help?” Call and ask about our volunteer opportunities; help sell and promote our
3rd Christmas CD—”Holiday Angels’ Working Undercover—Vol. 3!” Over 29 local bands
have lovingly donated their time and talents to produce this album. Many thanks to Rob
Schulte, Buzzy Langford of the Topcats and Chuck Credo IV of the Mixed Nuts for
spending hundreds of hours planning, recording of the bands and promoting the CD. Call
our office 455-2620 for information about the CD, events planned and outlets. Each double CD is $20 with all the net proceeds going towards building our “Angels’ Place Home”
that our love built!!!
Angels’ Place wants to thank you for all your time, talents, and treasures. Without you and
your support, Angels’ Place would not exist. It is our dream for you to “stand on the steps of
our beloved Angels’ Place Children’s Respite/End-of-life Home with us and cut the red ribbon.
It is truly your community spirit that sustains Angels’ Place!
Due to policy changes Xerox will no longer be printing our newsletter but will continue to support Angels’ Place through donations. Xerox has sponsored the printing for four years and Angels’ Place is extremely grateful to them. We are now in need of a Corporate sponsor for our
newsletter. Our eight page newsletter was monthly but changed to bi-monthly due to costs.
We have a circulation of 1400. If anyone is interested, or knows of someone who would print
our newsletter, please call us at (504)455-2620. Thank you for responding to our need.
Sincerely with blessings,
Anita Gilford, RN
Executive Director and Staff
P.S. If anyone wants to donate 2-5 acres of undeveloped land in Orleans/Jefferson Parish for
our Angels’ Place Children’s Home now is your chance to be our hero! The land needs to be
close to the major hospitals and on the East Bank. Do you want to do something beautiful for
children? Now is your chance! I promise you will never give as much love to our Angels’
Place children as they will give back to you. Our Angels’ Place home will be a warm, friendly
place where ill children will feel right at home.
GUARDIAN ANGEL GAZETTE
VOLUNTEER CORNER
CHILDREN’S RESPITE PROGRAM
Angels’ Place is looking for volunteers with big hearts for children. Please help us to serve our “little
angels with broken wings” Call 455-2620 for details. Also respite volunteers are welcome to pick up
gifts, toys, videos, and books to bring to our children and bags of toiletries to their moms when they
visit them . Volunteers are needed for our new CSHS medical respite program in Orleans and
Jefferson Parishes for our State’s medically fragile children.
Volunteering from her Heart
Cynthia Cella makes beautiful quilts, hats
and crocheted blankets for our Angels’ Place
kids. The Cinderella quilt she is holding is
just one of the many she has made. Our kids
are so blessed by her efforts and so are we.
Thanks, Cynthia, for your kindness and generosity.
We want to take this opportunity to thank ALL our
volunteers for their faithful service to Angels’ Place.
From quilts, hats, Thanksgiving baskets, the Christmas party, Trunk or Treat, Christmas CD, monetary
donations, school supplies, and respite, our volunteers have been the best.
May God continue to bless you, our AP children,
their families and Angels’ Place.
Annual Christmas Party for AP Children and their Families
On Saturday, December 18 in the Raider Room of Rummel High School in Metairie, Angels’ Place will host
our annual Christmas Party for our kids and their families from 1 PM—3 PM. Angels’ Place, our supporters and
volunteers bring loads of wonderful food for our delicious “pot luck” lunch. Our Volunteers make tasty salads, casseroles, sandwiches, yummy desserts, and appetizers—so there
is something everyone will like to eat!
Each AP child and their siblings receive loads of toys. Laughter and giggles are heard as
the children open their gifts from Santa. Cartoon animals and Santa’s Elves (aka Mark
Firmin’s Headstart Rummel students) are on hand to delight the kids and help Santa distribute toys. They also beautifully decorate a huge tree every year for our kids. Everyone
had a great time last year and we expect to have an even better time this year. One of our
AP families came all the way from Texas just to be with us.
You can’t imagine the joy of seeing the beaming faces of our little angels, who fight so
hard to be healthy and to lead normal lives, unwrapping their Christmas gifts. We are so
tremendously grateful for our volunteers, supporters and Mark Firmin and the Rummel
Headstart students and school staff for making this happen.
Volunteers should sign up ahead of time by calling our office.
In order for every child to receive gifts it is very important that our Angels’ Place families let us know in advance one way or the
other if you will be attending.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!!
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO BRING A DISH AND/OR TO SERVE
FOOD.
Please contact us at (504)455-2620
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT
All of us at Angels’ Place get our batteries
recharged from working with children and
their families, and also from all the efforts
of our caring volunteers and supporters.
Hardly a day goes by without someone
visiting the office with hand crafted baby
blankets, books, toys, money or other
items. We distribute these items to the families we serve
both at the hospital or in the home. People often ask
what we most need, so here are some requests.
• Gift cards for large chains and supermarkets
• New toys
• Videos and DVD’s
• New hand-held games
• Ethnic dolls
• Board games
• Toys that make sounds or light up with batteries
• Inexpensive portable CD players with external speakers (for lullabies in the pediatric intensive care unit).
• Toys in blister packs for children in isolation due to
risk of infection.
Because many of our clients are immunosuppressed, we
do not need used items. The children are at a high level
of risk for acquiring infections, which can be lifethreatening. Even when items are in good condition, we
are not able to adequately sterilize and package them.
Thanks for all you do.
Lee Hoffman, LCW
Operations and Family Program Manager
Giving Thanks!
We are bringing Thanksgiving boxes to some of our
Angel Place families who are financially burdened
and otherwise would have little
for
Thanksgiving. Also, we
want to send grocery gift
certificates to families who
live out of town.
Each year you have very generously given food, certificates and your time to our
very special families. We are asking, once again, if
you would please help them by donating turkey certificates, grocery certificates, canned goods, and
other items to make boxes for them.
Angels’ Place and our families are so grateful to our
generous and caring volunteers and supporters who
are always prepared to give of yourselves and we
love you for it.
Most of us have so much to be grateful for during the
Thanksgiving season. We want to do something so
our families can be grateful for as well. Angels’
Place families have enough to get through every day
taking care of their seriously ill children as well as
their families. Let’s brighten their Thanksgiving Day
and let them know, by our generosity, how special
they are to us.
Food donations may be dropped at our offices at
4323 Division St., Ste. 206 in Metairie and
certificates can be sent there as well. Please
have your goods to the AP office by
November 15, 2004 so they can be
delivered to our families in time
for Thanksgiving.
And the winners are!
May God abundantly bless you for all you do for
Angels’ Place, our Angels’ Place children and families.
Ursula Allain won the Harvest Doll Raffle and
Lori Borne won the Twin Dolls raffle. The
drawing was held in conjunction with Trunk or
Treat on Sunday, October 31. Congratulations
and thank you for your support of Angels’
Place.
If you would like to help deliver the boxes to our
families, or would like to put the boxes together,
please call the office and ask for Barbara, (504)4552620.
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Wing Claps and Gifts from the Heart
GUARDIAN ANGEL GAZETTE
(If we forgot anyone - please contact us - we are working hard to get
everyone in)
Thank you Xerox for your generosity in
Phyllis Jakob for a kind donation
Lynn Junot, for a kind donation
printing this newsletter for the last 4
Don Hoffman for helping with our computer problems
years. This will be their last sponsored
Moisant Kiwanis Club for the generous gift of candy for TOT
Kiwanis Club of New Orleans for a kind donation to TOT
issue.
Jim Hornsby, Freedom Termite & Pest Control, for a kind donation
Kind donations
Goldie Jouandot, for a kind donation
AORN of Northlake LA for a kind donation to TOT
Harry Lee, Sheriff for a kind donation
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), for
Lynn Long for a kind donation
their kind donation
Gary or Pam Marphis for a kind donation
Joycelyn and Gary Albrecht, for a kind donation
Nancy Marsiglia, for a kind donation
Mel Ankium, for a kind donation
Sharon Morel, for a kind donation
Iris Bailly for a kind donation
Sandra Oubre for kind donation to TOT, Thanksgiving basMr. & Mrs. Michael Bell, for a kind donation
kets, and Christmas party
Rey & Maryann Bievenu, for a kind donation
Lori Pausina, for a kind donation
Blake Bohner, 7th Gr. St. Martin’s For games for our kids
Cynthia and Dean Perrer for a kind donation to TOT
Paul E. Boyd Unit Marine Corps League Auxiliary for a kind donation Rachelle and Lauren Rettig for a kind donation
Catherine Breaux for a kind donation of yarn for kids blankets Marguerite Ricks, for a kind donation
Maureen T. Brennan, for a kind donation
Mrs. E.T. Robinson,for a kind donation for favor received
Daniel and Melanie Bronfin, for a kind donation
Cherie and Michael Schmidt, for a kind donation
Shirley & Rod Broussard, for a kind donation
Cherie Schmidt for a candy donation to TOT
Sr. Clare for a kind donation
Geraldine Saucer, for a kind donation
James Owen Coleman for a very kind donation
Carl and Merri Schneider, for a kind donation
John Couturier, for a kind Thanksgiving donation
Cynthia Smith, for a candy donation for TOT
Jan Davidson, for a kind donation
Ruth C. Stewart for a kind donation to TOT
Gerald Crump, for a kind donation
Elaine Tauzin, for a kind donation
Judy Crump, for a kind donation
Susan Thorburn for a candy donation to TOT
Daniel and Nathalie Cordes, for a kind donation
Tischler Computer Services, for a kind donation
Clyde and Rebecca Daigrepont, for a kind donation
Jane Tonglet, for a kind donation
Sister Lois Douglass, for a kind donation
Felicia Usner for a kind donation
Mrs. Charles Fain, for a kind donation
Debbie Vastola for a candy donation for TOT
Shawn Fassbender, for a kind donation
Robert & Lynne Wallenburg, for a kind donation
Lonnie and Jean Fisher, for a kind donation
Cathleen Ward, for a kind donation
Sandra Folger, for a kind candy donation
Peggy and John White, for a kind donation
Shirley Forman, for a kind donation
Frances Wiesman, for a kind donation
Jake Fruchtnicht for a kind donation & candy for TOT
Kitty Wise, for a kind donation
Susan A. Frey, for a kind donation
WALMART for a very generous donation to Trunk or Treat
Chrissy Garrett, for a kind donation
Woldenberg Foundation, for a kind donation
Goldring Family Foundation, for a kind donation
Fred Heebe for a kind donation
Thank you and God bless you for your kindness and generosity!
Jacquelyn Hellmers, for a kind donation
We couldn’t exist without your help!
Thank You NOAHU!
Every year, NOAHU, the New Orleans Association of Health Underwriters, has a Bowl-a-thon for Angels’
Place at the Rock-n-Bowl in New Orleans. Healthcare carriers sponsored a lane for Angels’ Place. Brice (left
with his father, Pat, and Anita Gilford, founder of Angels’ Place) came all the way from Garyville, LA with his
family and had a chance to bowl. There was cake and food on hand for our kids to enjoy. Patsy, Nicholas, David
and Louis (right) were also on hand to enjoy the event. NOAHU has been a long time supporter of Angels’ Place,
in fact, this was their 10th Annual Fundraiser making NOAHU our oldest contributor and friend. Our special
thanks to the committee: Cindy Osborne, Stephanie Booth-McGinnis, Robin Frick, Melenda Fabra, Key sponsors: Robin and
Ryan Frick, Humana Coventry Health Care, President Stephanie Booth McGinnis, President elect, Kenny Collins and Special
Guardian Angel sponsor, Chris Buras.
Thank you all for your continued support and dedication to Angels’ Place and our special children. God Bless you!
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DONATIONS GIVEN IN MEMORIALS
Rita Dearing in memory of Derise Dearing
Edward & Jane Duvernay in memory of Nora Bolling
Edward & Jane Duvernay in memory of Ruth Courtney
Michael & Catherine Haeffeler in memory of Gloria Sibley
Michael & Catherine Haeffeler in memory of Charles Leader
Paul & Mickey Haeffeler in memory of Gloria Sibley
Donna Justice in memory of Victor and Joy Fernandez
Thomas and Mary Kennedy in memory of Calvin W.
Suer, Sr.
Gloria Landry in memory of Margaret Pappas
The Wally Pontiff, Jr. Foundation and Wally & Terry
Pontiff in memory of their son, Wally Pontiff, Jr.
DONATIONS GIVEN IN HONOR
Kathleen Pilie in honor of Mary Bugea
Rob and Buzzy get Busy!
Rob Schulte, Buzzy “Beano” Langford of the Top Cats, and Chuck Credo of The Mixed Nuts are busy producing
our 3rd holiday CD. Chuck was production manager and liasion between Rob and Buzzy.
The proceeds from the CD will enable Angels’ Place to continue our efforts to raise funds to build our Angels’ Place home.
All the great tunes were recorded at The Apartment Studio, Buzzy’s recording company in Jefferson. And, according to
Rob, “It’s coming together.” This CD can ONLY be bought through the bands, their websites, certain outlets and Angels’
Place so they are truly a collector’s item. It is a fantastic album!
This
years contributing bands, Bag Of Donuts, Vieux Carre,
Blue Meanies, Bobby Cure & the Summertime Blues,
The Boogiemen, Bucktown Allstars, Burgundy, Dalila Seruntine and The Allstars, The Distractions, Four
Unplugged, Harvey Jesus & Fire featuring David Jesus, The Mixed Nuts, Rockin Dopsie, Molly
Ringwalds, The Chee Weez, The Top Cats, The Wise Guys, Scum Gumbo, Ratt Poison, Penny
Lane, Louisiana Spice, 5 Finger Discount, Kim Carson, Johnny Angel, Ronnie LaMarque, John
Blancher, Christian Serpas and Ghost Town, Gary Hirstius and Buzzy Langford are volunteering their
time for our “Holiday Angels Working Undercover Vol. 3.”
The new CD will be available for the holiday season so be ready to reserve yours today! The double
CD will sell for
$20 each and when they are gone they are gone! So
send in your checks as soon as possible
to reserve the limited edition of this great double holiday CD.
If you would like to see these terrific
“BOOMERS” at BOOMTOWN CA-
bands in person, come on out to
SINO on December 12.
We are so grateful for
the bands for ALL they
David Jesus (r), pictured here with his proud
have done for us. Rob
and Buzzy are true Guardfather and popular musician, Harvey Jesus,
ian Angels for Angels’
Place and we are humbled
will be doing a vocal on the CD. Do you see
by the fact that the bands the family resemblance? And, what a voice!!! voluntarily gave time from
their very busy schedules to help our kids. All the
band members we have met are wonderful, giving people and it has been a pleasure to
come to know them. We know they will all receive blessings for their kindness! We
also want to thank Lakeside Toyota for their contribution last year. Somehow they
were omitted by mistake and we certainly apologize for that error. Lakeside Toyota
has been a very good friend to Angels’ Place. Also, a big thank you to Mike at Papa
John’s Pizza at 6861 Jefferson Highway in Harahan for their prompt and continuous delivery of their delicious Pizzas!
Buzzy, engineering/producing
the CD at The Apartment Studio
in Jefferson.
A kick-off for the CD will be on Friday, November 26 at the Clearview Mall by the P.J.’s Coffee entrance. Some of the
bands will be stopping by to sign CD’s so come on by and see us and the bands. Help us make it a sell out!
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GUARDIAN ANGEL GAZETTE
OPPORTUNITIES
•Benefactor
Angels’ Place is working with a local philanthropist and
a great advisory council with big hearts for ill children.
They support the mission of Angels’ Place and are helping us find our children’s respite/end of life home in Orleans or Jefferson Parish! The rewards will be heavenly!
We will serve all children with life limited illnesses for respite care and end-of-life care.
•
•Land for our Angels’ Place Home
Businesses & Clubs around New Orleans
Angels’ Place welcomes businesses & clubs to
learn more about the mission and vision of Angels’ Place and the future respite/end of life
home. Founder and Executive Director, Anita
Gilford will speak at your meeting to discuss our
goals and share opportunities to help. Call 504/
455-2620 for details
We are looking for a couple of acres or more of land in a
• Host an Angels’ Place Family Party/Gathering
peaceful setting located in Orleans or Jefferson Parish
Businesses that would like to sponsor a party or
for our home (preferably donated). Community organichildren’s activity for our children anytime durzations please send letters of petition to Jefferson Parish
President Aaron Broussard and/or Mayor Ray Nagin for
ing 2004, please call Charlotte or Anita at (504)
a donation of a couple of acres of land for Angels’ Place.
455-2620.
In Loving Memory
D.J. left this world to be with
his loving Heavenly Father
on , Thursday, September 2,
2004. He is free from pain
and suffering and is happily
basking in the glory of the
Lord.
Although in this world just a short
time, Jailyn was dearly loved and
tenderly cared for by her devoted
parents. Now she is in the loving
and tender hands of her Heavenly
Father, her suffering over and her
heart full of joy.
Our heartfelt condolences go
out to D.J.’s family. May
the Lord’s peace and gracious
love comfort them in their
time of tremendous grief
Our thoughts and prayers are with
her family at this time of overwhelming sadness. May the Lord
keep, comfort, and strengthen you in
your time of deep sorrow.
.
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EVENTS
Trunk Or Treat!
Our seventh annual “Trunk or Treat” event held at the
ZEPHYRS STADIUM was a great success. There are
soooooo many people to thank, we will continue to cover
this event in detail in our December/January newsletter.
We have lots of pictures of the event that we are sure you
will enjoy now and more will follow.
Our heartfelt thanks to the Treasure Chest Casino and the
New Orleans Zephyrs, for helping to make Trunk Or Treat
possible.
3rd Place went to one of our AP families Yeah!!!
Disney theme wins First Place for Best Trunker
Pirate Ship wins 2nd Place for Best Trunker
Marc Allen, Director of Community Relations,
Zephyrs Baseball club with a wee Peter Pan
Gifts from the Heart
I want to help the little angels of Angels’ Place
I
Name _____________________________________________
Address ___________________________________________
City
State Zip _______ Day Phone (
)_____________ e-mail address_________________________________
I hereby pledge the following tax-deductible contribution of: $ __ One Time donation, ________
Gift may also be dedicated in honor or memory of a loved one, friend, or someone special.
Tax Deductible Gift Amount $ _________
Gift is [ ] in HONOR/ or [ ] in MEMORY of Name
Please notify Ms/Mrs/Mr__________________________________
Address _______________________________
State
Zip
City
Please make check payable to
Angels’ Place, Inc. and mail to:
4323 Division Street; Suite 206,
Metairie, LA 70002
Thank you for making a difference!
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School Supplies Delight AP Children
Our families have expressed their deep thanks for the school supplies they received for their children. Due to the generosity of our readers, we were able to give school supplies to our AP children as well as their siblings. It was a blessing for them because most of their money goes to medical expenses for their kids and it is a hardship for them to come
up with the money for all the supplies their kids need to enter school. And for kids, there is nothing better than new
school supplies and the smell of new crayons. Thank you from Angels’ Place and our families for your kindness.
Angels’ Place Calendar
November
Thanksgiving Baskets-donations needed by November 15.
December
Boomtown Casino Band ConcertDecember 12
Angels’ Place Christmas Party
Rummel High School—
December 18
Angels’ Place
4323 Division Street, Suite 206
Metairie, LA 70002
(504) 455-2620
Fax 504/ 455-2622
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage PAID
Metairie, LA
Permit Number 784
A non-profit organization that provides supportive services to seriously and
terminally ill children and their families.