Respite Centers are open and underway! ... St. Patrick's, Zachary, served over 500 meals on Thursday, and plans to continue to offer this service over the next several days. Today’s menu: Venison roast (welcome to Zachary), Rice and Gravy, Black-eyed peas and Cake.

St. Augustine's, Metairie, opened Thursday evening for people returning to Jefferson and Orleans Parishes.  The Parish Hall is now from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm in order to provide people a safe and air conditioned place to charge their cell phones, get a cup of coffee, eat a bowl of soup or a sandwich, and share a little bit of their story from the last few days. We hope to also offer a place for laptop computers to access wireless internet.

St. George's, New Orleans, is reopening the Dragon Cafe', the highly successfu post Katrina feending ministry.

Annunciation, New Orleans, has opened its campus to a large Southern Baptist group that, in cooperation with the Salvation Army, is serving meals and provinding relief services to the people of the Broadmore area and beyond.

Several other congregations plan similar ministries in the coming days.