Italian American Bocce Club Repairs
Donation protected
The Italian American Bocce Club of Greater New Orleans has promoted both the wonderful game of bocce and the celebration of Italian American culture since 1971. We are currently located at 2340 Severn Avenue in Metairie, where we operate an indoor facility with three full-sized bocce courts, poker room, kitchen, bar area, and banquet space for 75+ people.
Like many older cultural and community clubs, we are struggling to stay alive in the era of social media, virtual friends, and a reduced connection to culture, community, and history. Of course, Hurricane Katrina also hurt - decimating our membership rolls and scattering the Italian families that helped build the Club. However, we are fighting hard to survive...and having some success at it too...but we need some help from the community to make sure the Italian American Bocce Club is not added to the dreaded post-Katrina "Ain't Dere No More" list.
While we have started to attract new members across both age and cultural lines, we are in desperate need of funds to make long-needed (and basic) repairs to the facility. For example, we are currently using a couple dozen pickle buckets to prevent flooding and water damage from each rainstorm. Basic roof repairs have been estimated at a minimum of $10,000 - which we cannot afford on our own. Also, we have had to shut down during the summer months, as two out of our three air conditioning units no longer work and we can no longer keep the bocce areas cool. Repairs on the units and duct work are over $8,000. Additionally, there are many more minor repairs that need to be accomplished as well...so any and all donations are needed and appreciated!
At present time, we draw just enough money to pay our utility bills, insurance, and property taxes. To continue on in the future, we must make these needed repairs to the facility to keep attracting people to the Club so that we can continue to keep this unique cultural icon alive...because once the Italian American Bocce Club is gone, the New Orleans area will never see something like this again.
Please consider supporting this important part of the cultural fabric of the greater New Orleans area.
Thanks so much!
Like many older cultural and community clubs, we are struggling to stay alive in the era of social media, virtual friends, and a reduced connection to culture, community, and history. Of course, Hurricane Katrina also hurt - decimating our membership rolls and scattering the Italian families that helped build the Club. However, we are fighting hard to survive...and having some success at it too...but we need some help from the community to make sure the Italian American Bocce Club is not added to the dreaded post-Katrina "Ain't Dere No More" list.
While we have started to attract new members across both age and cultural lines, we are in desperate need of funds to make long-needed (and basic) repairs to the facility. For example, we are currently using a couple dozen pickle buckets to prevent flooding and water damage from each rainstorm. Basic roof repairs have been estimated at a minimum of $10,000 - which we cannot afford on our own. Also, we have had to shut down during the summer months, as two out of our three air conditioning units no longer work and we can no longer keep the bocce areas cool. Repairs on the units and duct work are over $8,000. Additionally, there are many more minor repairs that need to be accomplished as well...so any and all donations are needed and appreciated!
At present time, we draw just enough money to pay our utility bills, insurance, and property taxes. To continue on in the future, we must make these needed repairs to the facility to keep attracting people to the Club so that we can continue to keep this unique cultural icon alive...because once the Italian American Bocce Club is gone, the New Orleans area will never see something like this again.
Please consider supporting this important part of the cultural fabric of the greater New Orleans area.
Thanks so much!
Organizer and beneficiary
T.j. Stranova
Organizer
Metairie, LA
Georgia Barrett
Beneficiary
