House Resolution 10

A RESOLUTION HONORING AND COMMENDING THE NEIGHBORS PROGRAM FOR ITS DEDICATION TO HELPING OTHERS AND COMMENDING MRS. ALICE THOMAS TISDALE FOR THIS PROJECT AND MANY OTHER GENIUS SUCCESSES.

WHEREAS, the NEIGHBORS program evolved in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina from the caring initiative of one individual, Mr. Donnie Finley, a member of the Clarion Hotel maintenance personnel in Jackson, Mississippi, who was informed that Louisiana evacuees were being mistreated by the hotel staff; and

WHEREAS, responding to their frustration, Mr. Finley called Jackson City Councilman Kenneth Stokes, and informed Councilman Stokes that the evacuees were unsatisfied with services of the hotel, yet had no money to go elsewhere, and didn’t want to go to a shelter because of their small children; and

WHEREAS, after interviewing the hotel management, staff worked with the Red Cross to provide accommodations for the evacuees, and gave Mr. Finley, Councilman Stokes, Mr. Eddie James and Mrs. Alice Tisdale permission to use their meeting room to hold a crisis management counseling session; and

WHEREAS, with the operation of lending assistance up and running, doing what they believed was good work, the organization was without a name and really had no definite mission; but it was decided that they were being good neighbors, so therefore the name NEIGHBORS (Nation’s Evacuees In Good Hands with/Benevolent Out-Reach Services) came into being; and

WHEREAS, with Mrs. Tisdale's assistance, the children were enrolled in school with the help of Brinda Fuller Willis, the education partner, and Sylvan Learning Center administered placement tests to determine where the students were academically; and

WHEREAS, NEIGHBORS enlisted the help of We Care About You Tutorial Services to provide needed after school services, Jackson State University furnished two refurbished computers, and several agencies donated school supplies; and

WHEREAS, having partnered with the Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Center, the Center provided all the health care services free of charge, including, physicals, dental care and eye care to all displaced residents; and

WHEREAS, growing each and every day, NEIGHBORS continues to offer help where needed by relying on its partners who are experts in their respective fields, but above all, the program is directed by the hand of God, waving it with broad strokes so all dare not miss it; and

WHEREAS, other endeavors undertaken by NEIGHBORS include, but are not limited to: establishing bank accounts with Regions Bank for 10 families in amounts of up to Three Hundred Dollars each, clerical service, transportation services, assisting 10 families with move-in expenses, assisting two displaced residents to start businesses and coordinating work sessions with FEMA representatives and the Jackson State University Small Business Development Office; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend the diligent efforts and contributions of the NEIGHBORS program provided in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastation and aftermath:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby honor and commend the NEIGHBORS program for its dedication to helping others and its many other genius successes.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mrs. Alice Tisdale for the NEIGHBORS program and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.