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Saints and Save the Children Bring Fun to FEMA Park
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Stephanie Keefe cheers as Travis Billot makes a catch during the Saints training camp hosted by Save the Children. |
Plaquemines Parish, La. (March 16, 2007) – Today, Save the Children and the New Orleans Saints partnered to make a dream came true for children in a FEMA transitional settlement. With the help of Save the Children volunteers, the New Orleans Saints/Gatorade Junior Training Camp hosted a session for the children at The Diamond Group Site in Plaquemines Parish, La.
Last fall, Save the Children, which is working to create a safe and protective environment for children at Diamond, asked the boys and girls what activities they wanted at the camp. They decided to send a letter to the Saints, sharing their struggles and asking for their support:
"We've been through a lot because of Katrina," their letter said. "Some of our graduation dates were moved from June of 2006 to March of 2007 … One year later, we are still separated from our families. If you were inspired by someone, can you come and inspire us?"
Today, the Saints Youth Programs department answered their call. The clinic, which lasted approximately two hours, included a talk with Saints player Jahri Evans, number 73, as well as athletic activities. Participants rotated through several non-contact stations developed with football and fun in mind. Approximately 50 enthusiastic boys and girls lined up eagerly for each activity.
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Trevone Ragas runs a football drill at a Saints training camp hosted by Save the Children. |
Save the Children has been working across the Gulf Coast since Hurricane Katrina to help repair and resupply schools and child care facilities and provide emotional-support programs for children who experienced the storm. Through its Safe and Protective Communities Project, Save the Children has been working in Diamond Park to provide safe spaces for children in the park, as well as positive activities and additional support for park residents.
"Every day, children and their families in Diamond Park are living with the devastating impacts of Hurricane Katrina," said Mark Shriver, vice president and managing director for U.S. Programs at Save the Children. "These people need more than our support – they need our inspiration. Thanks to the Saints, today the children of Diamond Park were allowed to have fun and dream big."
