NOLA 2025

Family Serve goes to NOLA for it’s 19th Year.

November 1, 2025

Dear Family and Friends,

Peace of Christ to you!  As we prepare for our 19th yearserving in the urban neighborhoods of New Orleans, we are so grateful for each of you, many of whom have been supporting us for many years. Serving in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago this past August, was the catalyst to us forming Family Serve, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit religious corporation. The mission of Family Serve is simple: Share with God's people who are in need; practice hospitality.  Romans 12:13. We use this season of gratitude to provide you with an update from last year’s New Orleans outreach, as well plans for this year’s trip. Stay tuned for another update soon with 2025 Family Serve highlights and plans for 2026!

In 2024, we traveled to New Orleans in our RV and arrived safely with no car troubles whatsoever (thank you for your prayers.) We held two community events, giving away food, hygiene kits, suicide prevention literature, gun safety locks, “For Girls Like You” magazines and youth backpacks full of school supplies. These outreaches were a great time to spend time with the community and invite them to the Thanksgiving meal. 

Our volunteers, both young and old, joined us from the community and our son John and his girlfriend, Nikka flew in from California to volunteer. Shout out to faithful volunteers like Jaeda and Jorgi Mullen, and Don Echols who serve with us every year. As in year’s past, much time went into planning, shopping and preparing gumbo, turkey, ham, fried fish, cornbread stuffing, potato salad, stuffed bell peppers and all the other fixin’s for the meal. Kim Stewart leads up the NOLA culinary team and does an amazing job of getting donations as well as buying and making much of the food. The meal lasted all day and as in year’s past, we served well over 350 plates of home cooked goodness, with no leftovers.

As is tradition, we gave out themed t-shirts to the community and kept the kids busy with with Bible related arts and crafts (the adults like the crafts also.) Our theme last year, was “These are the Days (the Lord has made), Rejoice and Be Glad”, Psalm 118:36 was represented in all our activities. Many whom attended the meal did not have family or resources, so your generous support extended hospitality to those in need. It was a full week, with many individual stories of hope and reconciliation.

One person we were especially excited to meet was a young man named Gabriel, whom we literally “ran into” every day in various parts of the City.  We were so excited for him to bring his group of friends who sleep on the streets of New Orleans to enjoy fellowship and a wonderful meal. He was the first to be served and was very grateful.  We thank God for His faitfulfulness. We want to continue to bring encouragement and hope to a neighborhood very much in need. We leave November 23, 2025. This year’s theme is, "Awaken the Dawn of My Soul" inspired by Psalm 57:8.

If you would like to donate to our upcoming New Orleans trip (or other service area) you can do so at www.familyserve.org, send a tax-deductible donation to Family Serve, 2766 A Street, San Diego, CA 92102, or Venmo your donation to @Family_Serve (also available in the top right corner of our new website under “Give.”) Since our time, travel and administrative efforts are donated, 100% of your donation will be used for the outreach.

Thank you for being a part of Family Serve’s mission to strengthen the 9th and Lower 9th ward communities of New Orleans, one person at a time.

With Joy and Gratitude,

Doug and Jennifer McCain

Family Serve