Tip the Block Sign-up Interrupts Card Games

Today, Jessica, Sam, Melissa, and I (Camille) jumped in the car and drove out to one of our Tip the Block neighborhoods near the Dwyer Canal. It felt like a summer camp field trip with all of us in our matching Green Light shirts. After an interesting time navigating, we arrived at the Pontchartrain Park  Community Center. The building was huge, and somewhere in it, we were supposed to give a short presentation about our Tip the Block program.

I had thought that visiting seniors at the Pontchartrain Park Community Center  might be sort of sad, that the elderly people there would be cooped inside and bored. Instead, we met a bunch of lively people having a great time. To give our presentation, we had to interrupt several heated games of cards.

While Jessica, our supervisor, sat in the corner like a proud momma bear, Sam, Melissa, and I presented. We talked about Green Light’s mission, the idea behind the Tip the Block program, and what is going to happen in July when the ELCA volunteers arrive. Some of the people were clearly on board, and it was fun to watch them convince their reluctant friends.

Afterwards, we signed up 29 people for rain barrels, energy efficient light bulbs, and backyard vegetable gardens. Two women I spoke to send they were excited to get to garden again because they had grown up in the country and missed all the outside time.
All in all, we were happy to have made the visit, meet some very nice people, and generate buzz for Tip the Block.