Churches band together to offer free job training, clothing

Voter registration, health screenings, free food also on tap

Nine local churches and the Urban League of Greater New Orleans have banded together to provide free job training, health screenings and voter registration during a day filled with community resources, food and fun.

Community Action Saturday will be held at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Boutte on Saturday, June 28 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. While there, attendees will learn the best way to fill out applications and resumes. They will also be pointed in the direction of available job openings.

For those with an interest in the culinary arts, a chef will be on hand to provide a testimonial on the best way to secure a job in that sector. Along with the job training provided, attendees will also be able to get a free health screening, register to vote and receive free clothing.

Donnie Hills, one of the organizers of the event, said Community Action Saturday serves as a way to educate young people on the many opportunities available to them.

“In my opinion, there are a lot of opportunities that are not being taken advantage of by our younger people,” he said. “We want to get them to see that there are opportunities in jobs, get them to vote and let them know about some of the services that are offered to them.

“A lot of kids are not exposed to these things. If we give them a good footprint, maybe they can walk in those shoes.”

Resource providers that will be at the event include the Urban League of Greater New Orleans, Goodwill Industries of Southeast Louisiana, the Red Cross and Planned Parenthood.

Along with free job training, there will be activities for kids, including a space walk, and free food.

“Everything is free. We are not charging for anything,” Hills said.

Hills said that when area churches come together, they can reach more people than they can individually. He expects up to 400 people to take part in Community Action Saturday.

“When we come together, we can become more effective. We can collectively do it and do it right,” he said.