This is a call out to the community and surrounding areas to let them know about the situation we are in to stay open.

We would be able to use federal money to pay our staff, which is on duty 24 hours a day.

We need a plumber to install showers; we want to expand the playground for the children; we also want to incorporate classes that will benefit the mothers into our schedule.

It was a little early, we weren't quite ready yet and all of our funding wasn't there. But we felt, and still feel, that it was the right thing to do.

This past weekend we had a retreat with the board members and came up with a business plan to see where we are ... if we can move forward or have to close down.

We don't think it was a mistake to open early for Katrina victims, and if we have to close for a month to regroup, I'll be glad to do it.