R.M. "Iray" Nabatoff, Executive Director

Iray Nabatoff arrived as a volunteer in New Orleans from Acworth NH during January 2006, expecting to stay only about 3 weeks. After working at the Made With Love Cafe and seeing first-hand the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Iray made a long-term commitment to helping with the recovery effort. He has served as the volunteer Executive Director of the Community Center since its inception in April, 2006, and he is also on the board of Unified Nonprofits of Greater New Orleans, the St. Bernard Community Recovery Committee and the St. Bernard Parish Citizens Recovery Committee. Iray's ongoing dedication to assisting the hurricane survivors in New Orleans has lead the Times-Picayune newspaper to name him one of its “Heroes of the Storm”.

Jason joins us from Philadelphia, where he recently graduated from Swarthmore College with a Bachelor of Arts in Honors Physics and Philosophy. Born and raised in Houston, TX, he has returned to the Gulf Region to lend his efforts toward the recovery effort. Under Jason's direction, the Mustard Seed Distribution Program has expanded its service hours to 3 days per week and become a Second Harvest Member Agency.

A volunteer from Pennsylvania, Sharon has been in the New Orleans area since January 2007. After 8 months with the Steven Spring Foundation in the Bywater, she began working at the Community Center in September 2007.

Carrie is originally from Ohio, and has been volunteering in the New Orleans area since October 2007. She lived at Camp Hope until recently moving into a house in Arabi. Before starting her work as an Office Manager, Carrie assisted Jason with the Mustard Seed Distribution.

I was born and lived in New Orleans all my life. I raised three children in my life. I moved to St. Bernard after my marriage and went through both Hurricane Betsy and Katrina. I am now working for the St. Bernard Community Center 3 days a week, and enjoying it very much. I recently moved back into my home after living in a trailer for a year. But I still believe St. Bernard will come back. I got my job thru the AARP and hope I am doing a good job.

I am a St Bernard Parish resident of 50 years. I love this place, and hope to be here another 50 years. I am now working at the Community Center. I enjoy meeting people from the Parish and from other states. This is a great place to work!