7th Angotti Warm & Feed the Homeless project underway: Children learn service leadership by example
Published 12:05 am Wednesday, December 4, 2019
- Angotti and Watson family members are pictured next to donation bags as part of the annual Angotti Warm & Feed the Homeless project.
LAPLACE — Some families spend Christmas Eve baking holiday feasts, watching classic movies in warm pajamas or igniting bonfires along the Mississippi River levee.
The Christmas Eve tradition Bella, Berkley and Bevin Angotti of LaPlace have always known involves the culmination of an annual giving back supply drive. The three little girls accompany their parents, John and Jamie Angotti, to feed, warm and spread Christmas cheer to hundreds of homeless men and women in New Orleans.
The annual event started when Bella, 6, was less than a year old. From a young age, she has understood the impact giving back can have on a person in need. She acts as an ambassador for the project at St. Joan of Arc, encouraging students and teachers to play their part in giving back. The first pick-up of toiletry donations from St. Joan of Arc was received Monday morning, and each grade level is working to secure more supplies.
“We help the homeless so they can live good and strong,” Bella said. “I like passing out the food, bread, desserts, soup…”
John Angotti said Bella contributed the first $20 donation to the project using money she had earned.
The homeless population of New Orleans lines up and expresses thanks during a previous Warm & Feed the homeless event.
“The word I say around my house a lot is ‘perspective,’” John Angotti said. “They get the idea now, and they start looking forward to it now. I couldn’t be prouder when Bella said, ‘I’ve got a lot of money, and those people need it more than I do.’”
Berkley, who recently turned 5, said feeding the homeless makes her happy, and she thinks it’s important to “shine your light.”
“Shine your light” is this year’s theme at St. Joan of Arc, according to Jamie Angotti.
“It’s something we reiterate every day when we go to school and come home from school,” she said. “It always has to do with helping others.”
John Angotti hopes to eventually fund permanent, individual shelters for the homeless population. However, that will take more time and planning, and a lot more funding.
This year, the Angotti Family plans to distribute 200 backpacks and feed more than 250 people. John will drive a van to distribute meals to the disabled and those who otherwise can’t walk to the distribution site.
The following items are still needed to feed the homeless: two bags of onions; one large jar of garlic cloves; 21 (32 oz.) cartons of vegetable broth; 75 (14.5 oz.) cans of diced potatoes; 30 loaves of French bread or 300 dinner rolls; 200 bottles of water; 200 pieces of Cuties fruit (sold cheap in bulk at SAMs), and 200 bananas (green if received more than one week before serving or near ripe if received the day before serving.)
Winn-Dixie/Walmart/SAMs cards are preferred for bananas if the total purchase and delivery of bananas is not by the same person.
Volunteers have already committed to providing 30 pounds of ground beef, 55 cans of mixed vegetables, Hawaiian punch and much more.
The following items are needed to warm the homeless and fill backpacks: 171 new or gently used blankets (PJ’s Coffee in LaPlace is a blanket drop off location); 200 adult socks (no ankle socks, please); 1 packages of napkins (500-count or greater); 300 Styrofoam to-go plates; 300 Styrofoam food bowls with plastic lids or insulated extra-large coffee cups; 400 peanut butter cracker packs; 200 easy open cans of protein foods; and 33 cans of Vienna sausage.
Toiletry needs include 193 full-sized bottles of shampoo; 137 bar soaps; 166 deodorants; 128 toothbrushes; 177 toothpastes; 181 bottles of mouthwash; 100 packs of dental floss; 48 inexpensive washcloths; and 200 rolls of toilet paper of any size and brand. The number of homeless women in need has increased over the years, according to Jamie Angotti. Thus, the family is seeking 28 standard size boxes of tampons to place in brown paper bags for discreet distribution.
First aid needs include 440 alcohol wipes total; 1,000 standard size Band-Aids, 250 snack-sized Ziploc bags and 500 gallon-sized Ziploc bags. Five alcohol wipes and five Band-Aids will be packaged for each individual. This will allow minor cuts and scrapes to be cleaned for faster healing.
Two packs of 500 sheets of white copy paper are also requested. The Angotti Family will use the paper to print resource fliers for the homeless who need help for addiction, shelter, clothing, showering, spiritual guidance, education, job training and more.
How to donate
All donations can be dropped off to 2112 Augusta Drive in LaPlace, sent via PayPal to johncvp@hotmail.com, or sent via Venmo to john-angotti-1. Please type “homeless project” in the memo.
For the sake of transparency, all monetary donations and photos of donated items will be listed on the event Facebook page. A donor may choose to list their name as anonymous.
Monetary donations assist in the bulk orders of hats and gloves. These donations also defer costs of additional food, drinks, blankets and other items not collected via specific item donations.
For more information, please call or text Jamie Angotti at 985-212-4717 or John Angotti at 985-212-4133. Volunteers are welcome to help serve on Christmas Eve.
Follow The Angotti Feed & Warm the Homeless Project on Facebook for updates on supply donations and needs.
