This morning we woke up after a great night of eating beignets and sleeping soundly on our tempur-pedic bunk beds (these were donated so that volunteers could have the best night sleep) to prepare for our first service day. We ate our cereal and then piled in the vans to drive downtown to Apex Community Center!
Once we got to Apex, we were introduced to Danny and Lisa- the owners and founders of the organization. Both quit their regular day jobs because they decided it was more important to help serve their community. The background that they shared with us was incredibly touching and really proves how making small sacrifices in your own life can lead to a monumental impact on others. Now, they strive to provide children who are living in poverty or without family support a place to go where they can play games, eat home cooked meals, play music, and learn various skills for their future. Spending time at the youth center also gives them the chance to stay safe in their surroundings and develop interpersonal communication skills they can use on the street to continue to try and make good choices. Around fifty teenagers frequent the center daily, and they do several things to provide them with things most of us take for granted. Danny and Lisa are preparing for a Christmas party where they made enough in donations to provide a gift for each child – most of whom would not be getting a real Christmas without them. These donations came from people who were moved by what the program is doing and just decided to donate all they could. We swept, mopped, organized, and even built cabinets to hold the ever-growing supply that the teenagers use. Even after all of this, we left wanting to do more because we were so inspired by Danny’s endeavors.
For lunch, our wonderful New Orleans’ partner Caitlin brought us Saucy’s Barbecue from Magazine Street. We all loved it and would definitely recommend it for anyone passing through New Orleans! After lunch we went to the central city to take a tour of the French Quarter where we learned about the geography, history, and extensive Jazz music past. Our tour guide was great at going into detail and answering every question we had to the best of his ability. Two things that really stood out to me were learning that even if you own a home in the French Quarter, you have to get special permission to alter anything on the outside so they’re able to maintain the authenticity and originality of the city; the other thing that stood out to me was hearing how Jazz music started in the Quarter with people like Louis ‘Satchmo’ Armstrong and Charles Joseph ‘Buddy’ Bolden.
Once our tour came full circle in the French Quarter, we had free time to walk the streets. My group chose to go see the French Market and small souvenir shops where we purchased gifts for our families and friends. We had to head home once our parking meter ran out, and we all got some much needed rest before dinner. Caitlin treated us to Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria, which was delicious. Over our meal we reflected on the positives and negatives of our day and discussed plans for tomorrow’s activity.
We rounded out the night by taking a long drive looking at Christmas lights down St. Charles street and listening to holiday tunes. Overall, I think all of us can agree that this was a very full and rewarding day, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the week!
