Town of Kentwood Public Officials Serving Flood Victims

Mayor Irma T. Gordon
Town of Kentwood 

Thousands of residents of Tangipahoa Parish were affected by flood waters this past weekend. Tangipahoa Parish is just one of the nineteen parishes that has been declared a natural disaster area by the federal government. 

Several people loss their life and thousands loss their homes and­― all their material possessions. This past March some people who live on the North End of the Parish had to seek shelter from the flood. Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller said that about 5000 homes in the parish were flooded this past March. 

Today the Town of Kentwood elected officials, town employees and volunteers gave out clothes, cleaning supplies, shoes, personal items to people in need. Mayor Irma T. Gordon was there with Councilman Gary Callahan and  Chief of Police Michael Kazeronni issuing the items and water.

Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

I made one call to Constable Lemmie Chapman III and asked him to pick up some items to bring to the center. He didn't hesitate to come by and get the cleaning supplies. Our elected officials are truly public servants and the people of Kentwood really appreciate all the services they provide. 

All the volunteers worked so well organizing everything for the people. The community came together to help others in need. Many volunteered their time and other made donation to the town for today's distribution. The items were neatly organized on the tables outside and other donations was steadily coming in. Talking with some of the people who had loss what little they had since the last flood brought tears to my eyes. Most people are coping with the loss again months later. "What makes it a little easier is knowing that others cares!" And they're willing to help.

Town of Kentwood Elected Officials Serving the People
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Kentwood Mayor Goes Beyond the Call of Duty

There is much that can be said about Irma T. Gordon, Mayor of the Town of Kentwood. A former educator in Tangipahoa Parish School System, former councilwoman, mother, sister, and friend. She rolls up her sleeves and works hard in her community. You can find her in her office five days a week working hard to improve our town.

She puts children first and is concerned for our youth. Whatever she can do to help them, she will do. She shows the same concern for the citizens in our community. She is embarking upon the second year in office and her work is visible.

Mayor Gordon greets everyone with a warm smile and hugs. She makes everyone feel welcome and she treats everyone with respect. Born and raised in the Town of Kentwood, Louisiana., It's not that many people that she doesn't know. If there is an event taking place in town and you invite Mayor Gordon, she will do her best to attend.

Under her leadership the Town of Kentwood will see growth. Most mayors in rural towns in the Parish of Tangipahoa aren't full time employees. Mayor Gordon goes beyond the call of duty to serve our town and it's citizens. Although serving the community is nothing new to Mayor Gordon she  served as the a councilwoman for several terms, politics isn't new to her.

All She Wanted Was A Front Porch

Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Laura Coleman went blind in her early childhood. She later contacted the measles and lost her hearing. I can't imagine being blind and deaf. That what Laura face every day of her life. There is over 50, 000 deaf people that live in Louisiana.  In 2014 the Tangipahoa Parish 911 Center began using Smart911 for people who are hard of hearing. I'm starting to  researching programs that can help Laura have a better quality of life.  It will provide me the  opportunity to learn about the resources that's offered to people like Laura who live in Tangipahoa Parish. 

Laura's sister Ruthie stomps her feet when she wants to get Laura's attention. Laura feels the vibration for the floor and she knows that Ruthie is trying to get her attention. Ruthie promised her mother on her dying bed that she would take care of Laura and that is exactly what the entire family does. 

Her sister and niece told us how Laura likes to sit on the front porch and get some fresh air.  She hadn't been able to do that because the front porch had deteriorated and the family had to take it down due to safety reasons. During an interview with her sister Ruthie, I asked her what would she like to see a change in her home? "I would like to a front porch for my sister Laura," said Ruthie; she can't come outside and sit on the front porch like she use to. I guess I was still in shock that all she wanted was a front porch for her blind and deaf sister. 

I walked over to talk with  Wessam Albadry documentary and social photography photojournalist to tell him what her request was and he said he would help. The other volunteers all said that they would help out. Volunteers from the Town of Kentwood and San Francisco, California immediately started brainstorming to see what they could do to help. Some people donated the funds for materials and other donated their time and skills to build Laura a front porch.

Constable Lemmie Chapman III didn't hesitate to help. He picked up the supplies at the local hardware to build the porch for someone with special needs. Other came along and gave him a helping hand. The men in Coleman Place came after work to help.  It was strange to see Wessam put down the camera and pick up work tools to help build  Laura a porch. I'm so happy for Laura now,  she  can sit outside and enjoys the fresh cool morning and evening breeze.

Thank you, Constable Chapman, Wessam Al-badry, Wallace Gilmore and the other volunteers that to give Laura a front porch. Your kindness and generosity made a difference. It couldn't have happened without people like you.

During an interview with Constable Chapman, you could see the tears in his eyes after watching Laura come out and sit on the front porch. He made a difference in someone's life who really needed it. Although this home is out of his district but helping them was in his heart. We're  proud to have caring people like him and all the volunteers who served others.

Constable Chapman believe in being a public servant to his community. He has been in office less then two years but he is making a great impact on the community.  One more heart was gathered through this mission and we are here to help those in need.

Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Left: Wallace Gilmore, Ruthie Coleman and Constable Lemmie Chapman III.








Copyright © 2016 by Antoinette Harrell

Love Fellowship Outreach Ministries Service Kentwood and Surrounding Areas

Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr

Helping others in need is what Love Fellowship Outreach Ministries does. Pastor Mathew Ware spent several weeks collecting food, clothes, and other items to drive nine and a half hours to service the needy in the Town of Kentwood, the Village of Tangipahoa, Fluker, Natalbany, Amite, Louisiana. Love Fellowship Outreach Ministries has partnership with Gathering of Hearts to service people in the Mississippi Delta and now they have across the state line to Louisiana. Traveling with two other pastors, his lovely wife, daughter and nephew.

They have provided furniture, shoe, clothes, toys, food, appliances and other items to people in their own community. But their love and support had no boundaries. They brought enough supplies to service over a hundred and sixty people in all communities combined. Although he and his ministries had help Gathering of Hearts for several years, this is the first time that the volunteers and ministries met Harrell, the co-founder of Gathering of Hearts.

Pastor Ware and Pastor Walter Tyrone. 

In the Town of Kentwood, he was greeted by Gathering of Hearts, Mayor Irma T. Gordon, Councilwoman Irma Clines, and Lemmie Chapman III, Constable of Ward 1. The people made a line and picked up their items with smiles and appreciation written on their faces. Everyone was mindful to take only enough supplies for themselves and leave some for others.

Kentwood was the first stop. They then traveled to the Village of Tangipahoa and gave out donations their. Mayor Brenda Nevels and Parish Councilman Nick Joseph greeted the ministries. Everyone was very pleased with the donations they received. After leaving the Village of Tangiphaoa they loaded truck once again to services St.Helena Parish, with bags left over for Maben, Mississippi.

Other partners helped with making this give away a success. We would like to thank the Tangi Democrats for their support and kindness render as well. Harrell has been invited to come and speak to their ministries on poverty in Granite City, Illinois.

Gathering of Hearts would like to thank Doris Lloyd for service the Tickfaw/Natalbany community and Glynis Vernon Gordon for servicing Amite, Louisiana. This is what outreach is all about helping others in your community.

Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr,

Emory University Student Visit the Town of Kentwood, Louisiana

A Reading Corner setup at Ebony Beauty
Supply in Kentwood, LA

Over the past three days, I have visited the communities of Roseland, Fluker, and Tangipahoa and seen first-hand the rampant poverty that affects the people who live there each and every day,"said Schoderbek. The towns are sparsely populated, and the majority of the residents lack the necessary skills for employment. The rural nature of these communities presents a serious challenge in providing them with the necessary services for community enrichment. Though the issues these areas face are extensive and deep-rooted, William is confident that with the ingenuity of creative minds, solutions can be developed to solve these problems.

While attending Bellarmine College Preparatory School in San Jose, CA., Schoderbek organized two immersion trips to the Mississippi Delta. Giving out books, clothes, gardening, assisting with setting up a Reading Center in Webb, Ms., Schoderbek, along with nine other students and two instructors joined Gathering of Hearts volunteers and co-founder Antoinette Harrell to help serve those in need. This year the students will travel to Louisiana to do immersion work in Tangipahoa Parish with great focus on the north end of the parish.

Customer at Ebony Beauty Supply borrowing a book

Once he arrived in Kentwood, Louisiana he provided tutoring to students on how to apply for scholarships, look for a university to attend. While answering all the questions for students who attend High School in Tangipahoa School District. He also assist Harrell in setting up a reading corner in Ebony Beauty Supply in Kentwood, Louisiana. The next day school supplies were donated to both O.W. Dillion Elementary School and Kentwood Magnet High School.

William enjoy giving back to the community. He understand how important it is to have community enrichment resources for the youth and the community. There isn't one community resource center on the north end of the parish. After school programs and summer enrichment programs can be the road map to help students in the community achieve their goals. Williams in now a student at Emory University in Georgia. However, he left a legacy at Bellarmine College Preparatory School.

Rochell Bates, Principal of Kentwood Magnet High School
receiving donations from Gathering of Hearts and William.

"I'm more than show I'll visit Tangipahoa Parish again," he said with a smile. I was delighted to hear that he wanted to return.
Through social media William can see the work that the student will do this year in Tangipahoa Parish.

Although William will not be join the group this year, I know he will do something this summer to help someone else.

Kentwood, Louisiana Celebrate Happy Earth Day

Kentwood Elected Officials and Town Employees
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Happy Earth day is a day to clean up and beautify your community.  We all should take part in taking care of our plant  by picking up trash and litter or perhaps plant flowers and trees. Kentwood residents met at the Kentwood Community Center ready to spruce up the town. After the residents were signed in, they were issued a plastic garbage bag, gloves, and tee shirts.

This year's Happy Earth day clean up was organized by Yolanda Callaghan a city employee for the Town of Kentwood.

Kentwood Mayor, Irma T. Gordon and several town council members joined in. Councilman Terrell Hookfin, Councilman Gary Callihan, and Councilwoman Irma Clines were there with their sleeves rolled up ready to work. Many of the town employees worked sided by side with the residents picking up litter.  Constable Lemmie Chapman III, is a strong voice in the Kentwood community picking up trash and litter on our streets and highways were there picking up trash as usually.

Constable Lemmie Chapman III
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

There has been 46 environmental victories since the first earth day.  The first earth day was on April 22, 1970. 20 million people across the United States took to the street to raise awareness about our environment. Today, Kentwood residents came out to be a  part of keeping our town clean. Several children joined the Happy Earth day clean up.

It's never to early to teach children not to be a litter bug. We should teach them not to throw candy and other snack wrappers on the ground, and in our beautiful lakes and ponds that could be harmful to the wildlife. Beside having a clean community make everyone who live in the community feel good about their community. One of the main issues that the constable pointed out is the number of tires they are picking up that is being discarded on the side of the highway and streets in our community. Please beware that if you are caught throwing litter, trash and tires on the streets and highway. You will receive a ticket and may have to do community hours picking up litter.