Harahan, Louisiana, Church Volunteers Serve Christmas Meal at Covenant House

Eddie Rafidi and his wife, Kelley Rafidi, along with their daughters, spent part of their Christmas Day serving a meal at Covenant House New Orleans. The Harahan couple described their involvement as “a small act of charity.”

The Rafidis have volunteered for the 35th annual Christmas luncheon at Covenant House since 2017 and have served as co-chairs since last year. The event, held at Covenant House, 611 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, is sponsored by volunteers from St. Rita of Cascia Catholic Church in Harahan, as well as other community members who donate prepared food for the meal.

Covenant House is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week shelter that provides services to homeless youths aged 16 to 22, including pregnant and parenting youths and their children. The staff develops personalized plans for each resident, focusing on goals in employment, education, and health.

Rheneisha Robertson, executive director of Covenant House since 2021, noted that the shelter typically averages between 160 to 180 youths per night, with numbers rising to 220 during the height of the COVID pandemic. She described the young people who come to Covenant House as “brave, intelligent and savvy,” emphasizing their resilience and potential for healing and thriving with support.

Prepared food donations for the Christmas luncheon include casseroles, turkeys, and hams. Volunteers are encouraged to bring dishes to Eddie Rafidi’s home by 9 a.m. on Christmas morning or to drop them off at Covenant House within the week of the event, marked clearly for the lunch.

Maria Blanchard, a long-time volunteer at Covenant House, has participated in the luncheon since the late 1990s and previously served as chair. Her continued involvement highlights the community’s commitment to supporting those in need through practical acts of mercy.

Source: Read the original report