Featured Nonprofits and Wish Lists

The Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission has been serving the needs of the homeless and hurting in Northwest Louisiana since 1955. From serving more than 73,000 meals to providing more than 30,000 nights of shelter a year, support from people just like you makes it all possible. Together we can change lives in a changing world.  The following donations are needed:

• Host a Food/Clothing Drive or a Hygiene Kit Drive
  Your church, business or social group can collect food items such as large canned vegetables and other non-perishable food items, or donations of money toward the purchase of food items.
• Prepare and Serve Meals
  Serving food to the hungry in our community puts a face with the need. Time of Arrival to Serve Meals: Breakfast 7:00 AM  Lunch 11:15 AM Dinner 4:15 PM.
  Volunteers may come as individuals or in groups of as many as 6 people to prepare meals and 4 people to serve meals. Other opportunities in Food Services: Cleaning, delivering of food baskets, letter writing, revision of finances for meals. If you would like to participate in this area please contact Goldie Davis, Food Service Director at 227-2868.
• The Thrift Store
  The Thrift Store serves as a place for men to learn valuable job skills and also helps fund the Mission's programs. Donations to the Thrift Store are tax-deductible. We'll even pick them up! Besides donations, there are ways you can provide hands-on help at the Thrift Store. Volunteers may come as individuals or in groups of 4 - 6 people. For youth groups, please have at least one chaperone present per five youth.
• Mentoring & Fellowship
  Christian men are needed to serve as role models to the participants in the Mission's New Life Program. Opportunities abound to provide fellowship and socialization to those who might otherwise not have the chance.
• Monetary Donations
  checks may be sent to: Shreveport Bossier Rescue Mission, PO Box 3949, Shreveport, LA 71133.
• In-kind Donations ---Items needed:

Rescue Mission Programs:

• Hunger Relief: The Rescue Mission provides an evening meal each day at 5:00 p.m. for local and transient people in the community who are hungry. Clients may check in between 4:15 and 5:00 p.m.

• Disaster Relief: The Rescue Mission also provides food baskets, clothing, furniture, appliances, and more to families who are unable to purchase these necessities due to unexpected mdical or utility bills, death in the immediate family and/or loss of employment.

• Thrift Store: Provides a variety of household items, clothing, furniture, and appliances to the general public, and to our clients approved for assistance. All donations to the Thrift Store are tax deductible.

• Medical Center: A doctor sees clients free of charge each Monday from 8 to 10 a.m.

• L.I.F.E. (Living in Families Effectively): This program is designed to assist low income and impoverished families and single mothers with children with basic living and parenting skills. An eight week program where the Mission provides counselors and all necessary supplies.

• Chaplain Ministry: This service provides the client access to spiritual counseling and regular chapel services.

• Transient Men Lodging at the Rescue Mission: First time transients may check in between 4:15 and 5:30 365 days a year except Sundays when check-in as 3:00 p.m. The Mission provides each transient with seven night's lodging every 30 days including an evening meal, a shower, clean bed, change of clothing, tooth brush and tooth paste, razor, chapel service, counseling, and breakfast. Chapel services are available but not mandatory.

• New Life Recovery Program Men Lodging at the Mission: These are men suffering from some form of addiction and/or mental health problem. This is a Christian based 12 week, 12-step rehabilitation program. Each client is required to spend 4 hours a day Monday through Friday in classroom work and 4 hours Monday through Saturday in on-the-job training at the Mission or at the Mission Thrift Store. They are also required to attend church services either at the Mission chapel or at the church of their choice. On-site room and board is provided as well as a small weekly sustenance allowance.

• Social Services Program Men Lodging at the Mission: This is a service provided for homeless men suffering some form of health and/or mental disability. Clients must follow the program rules and cooperate with the Social Services Counselor to remain at the Mission.

• New Life Recovery Program Graduates Living in Transitional Living Centers (TLC): These clients are working full-time or part-time and going to school. They are required to attend several Support Group meetings each month, attend a church service of their choice, and save 10% of their gross income for use as rent and utility deposits upon leaving the program. Random drug and alcoho screenings are administered by staff. The length of stay in the program is from 12 to 24 months.

• Families Living in Transitional Living Centers: Clients may live in one of the TLC units for up to one year for $100 per month. Each family uses their combined gross income for utility and rent deposits upon moving out. The Mission provides all maintenance and repair to the three TLC houses.

• Mission Thrift Store: The retail thrift store is a ministry providing a place for program clients to learn an appropriate work ethic, to make available good and useable products to low income families in the community, and to offset operating expenses of the Mission. All items donated to the Thrift Store are tax deductible.

• Transportation Services: Transportation is provided for clients at the discretion of administrative staff.

Rules of acceptance and participation in Mission programs are the same for everyone without regard to religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability.

For more information about the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission, visit them online at www.sbrescuemission.com . 

Our Needs

We are in need of volunteers how would like to devote thier time to helping individuals with disablilities and their families.

Overview

We would like to take this time to introduce ourselves, as we are the newest addition the Families Helping Families Network.

Families Helping Families Region 7 is a network of families who, because of their experiences have become committed to reaching out to individuals with disabilities and their families. We serve the parishes of Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Desoto, Natchitoches, Sabine, Red River and Webster, providing direct referrals to agencies and services important to families' specific needs locally, regionally and nationally.
Families Helping Families Region 7 offers the following services:

Information and Referral
Provides a variety of information/services on disabilities and will refer to other organizations for more information.

Support Groups
Facilitates support groups in the Region 7 parishes where parents can get together to share experiences, decrease isolations and gain understanding.

Peer to Peer Support
Support by phone or in person to individuals who need to talk to another parent who has "been there"; links families with similar situations locally or statewide

Workshops
Offers families workshops to encourage, enlighten, and empower; topics are family-driven, timely, and relevant.

Newsletter
Published quarterly and provides most current information, education, and inspiration.

Stipends
Available to family members and/or individuals with disabilities to attend conferences, workshops or other events.

Our History

In the early 90's, families partnered with the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council to be the driving force that founded and formed Families Helping Families of Louisiana. It all began at a conference sponsored by the Louisiana Development Disabilities Council in 1988 that focused on community support and services for people with disabilities. The conference was attended by many young parents, who wanted to have full inclusion for their children with disabilities, in the communities where they lived and worked. By the end of 1992, each region of the state was represented by a non-profit Families Helping Families Resource Center. The Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council provided the funding for all of the non-profit centers in Louisiana. Each non-profit center builds its programs based on the needs of its own region, but the common philosophy and dedication to supporting people with disabilities and their family members to live, work and play in our communities. Families Helping Families Region 7 was established in the spring of 2008 to serve those in Region 7.

The Shreveport Opera 

The mission of the Shreveport Opera is to foster and promote the production of quality performances of opera and music drama; to aid in furthering the development of opera; and to further educational efforts which support the growth, development, and appreciation of opera as a viable art form within the tri-state region.

Shreveport Opera Xpress (SOX) is the educational and touring arm of Shreveport Opera. It offers live opera performances (at almost any location) while teaching music appreciation to children's audiences. SOX is currently presented in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas schools as well as in community centers, homeless shelters, hospitals, and other nonprofit organizations in the Shreveport-Bossier area. If you are interested in having a SOX performance at a birthday party, daycare, Mother's Day Out Program, church or other special event, please contact the Shreveport Opera at 318.227.9503.

Here are some simple and fun ways you can support The Shreveport Opera.

WANTED:

Lunches and Dinners for the Casts

Airline Tickets/Miles Donations

Food for the Intermissions

Parties for the Casts

Rental Cars

Trailer

Lumber

Sodas and Coffee

Toaster Oven

Coffee Maker

Projector

TV/VCR/DVD

Tools

Costumes

Furniture

Volunteers

Sponsors for Shreveport Opera Xpress Productions

For more information and to make a donation TODAY, Call 318.227.9503 or visit their website.

JLSB Cookbook

To reserve your copy(ies) of Revel $19.95 or Mardi Gras to Mistletoe $26.95 cookbooks, please contact us at:

Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier

520 Olive Street

Shreveport, LA 71104

(318) 221-6144

www.jlsb.org

Join the League

The Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier, Inc. is actively seeking women who possess an interest in voluntarism, a commitment to community service and an interest in developing her potential for voluntary community participation.

There are many benefits to becoming a member of the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier, Inc.  The League offers its members professional training, flexible volunteer placements and an opportunity to make friends for life with women who show common concern for the community. 

The JLSB wants you....to become a trained volunteer, improve the community, meet new friends and most importantly to change the lives of families at risk in our community.  For more information, contact the Junior League office at 318-221-6144.

Support League's Current Projects