ELCA NEWS SERVICE July 25, 2009 ELCA Youth Volunteer at Community Health Fair 09-167-CD*/JB NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- Shalamay Dolliole looked through the books she picked up for her six children. She found two treasures in the stack: "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" and "The Chronicles of Narnia." Dolliole let out a yelp of excitement when she saw them. "I'm taking these home and reading them right now," she said, a huge grin on her face. Dolliole and her husband Steven brought four of their six children to a health fair July 25 at Popps Fountain in City Park, hosted by the New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD), the Recovery School District, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The event, with light attendance, was staffed by Lutheran teenagers from across the United States and Caribbean who are here attending the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering. Some 37,000 Lutheran teenagers, adult leaders and other volunteers are here July 22-26. "Jesus Justice Jazz" is the theme of activities at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the Louisiana Superdome. They're also fanning out across the area to work beside the people of New Orleans in nearly 200 community service projects. "This is beautiful," said Djuana B. Johnson, a New Orleans resident who volunteers to coach girls' sports at the New Orleans' Cut-Off Center, as she visited stations at the health fair. She collected shoes and other items to give to the girls. "The (Youth Gathering) volunteers donated all of their time," Johnson said. "They've come in the heat and made a tremendous effort in the city. They're not complaining. They're glad to be here and giving of their time. . So many young kids volunteer their time to come here in the summer! That's why I continue to smile." Youth Gathering volunteers worked the booths where the free items were being given away. Volunteers from St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, Iowa, and Bethany Lutheran Church, Howard, S.D., gave away donated shoes from Target. Johnny Burks, NORD Cut-Off Center, collected books, shoes, candy and other items to give to teens that attend a weekly "movie night" he hosts at the center. "Twenty kids usually come to movie nights," he said, adding that the center is in an area where many people live in poverty. Many of the families that live in that area were displaced for months following Hurricane Katrina. Isaac Troice, a construction worker from New Orleans, stopped by the fair on his way home from work to pick up things for his seven-year-old and 10-year-old. "I told them I would bring them something back," he said. Troice has lived in New Orleans all his life. He spent 20 days on the top of his roof with his children, waiting to be rescued from the flooding after Katrina. He is glad that the ELCA is here and hopes that the spirit of service continues to come to New Orleans. "If they had this every year, I think this city would be a better city," he said. Danielle Bloom and her son, Kolby, also stumbled on the health fair while walking in City Park. Kolby gushed about the hand painting he had done at the fair and his two new books, both from the Captain Underpants series. "These people are so nice," the 10-year-old said. "I like nice people." The Bloom family spent 10 months in Vermont after Hurricane Katrina, but returned afterwards. "My family is all here," Danielle said. "My mom, my grandparents." Kolby will start school in a new location this year. He had previously attended a Catholic school that was funded by a donor, but the tuition has gotten too high for the family to pay. "It's so hard to get him in school," Danielle said. If his new school doesn't work out, the family will have to move again. For now, the pair is enjoying spending time at the health fair. "Ya'll make me want to join your church," Danielle said of the volunteers. --- Information on the ELCA Youth Gathering can be found at http://www.ELCA.org/gathering on the ELCA Web Site. The New Orleans Recreation Department is at http://www.cityofno.com/pg-32-1-nord.aspx online. * Carrie L. Draeger is a senior communication major with a concentration in journalism at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash. This summer she is an intern with the ELCA News Service. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news