HOLIDAY DECOR AND TOY DRIVE

The Big Easy Rollergirls are teaming up with The Arabi Wrecking Krewe and Common Ground to provide holiday decorations and toys for local families affected by Hurricane Katrina.

The water lines across the Parishes of Louisiana did more than destroy the physicality of homes and businesses. The hurricane washed away memories, and sometimes generations of life history. These memories tenderly stored in the back of closets, attics and upper shelves became refuse. It’s a difficult future when your mementos turn to mold.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t just the water and wind that played executioner to keepsakes. In a recent letter to the Times Picayune editor, a woman wrote about her family coming back to her rental home only to find all of their belongings on the street and rummaged though. She heartbreakingly wrote about how her Grandmother’s china would sit on someone else’s table, and whoever placed her ceramic angel on their mantel would never know realize its significance.

For many, the holidays are a time of ritual and remembrance. Our goal is to give families new memories, so in 25 years when they open up their holiday storage boxes they can tell their children (or grandchildren) the story on how New Orleans gave back to them after the worst natural disaster in the United States. How out of the flood waters came hope.

The Arabi Wrecking Krewe’s goal is to bring our musicians and our music back home. They have assisted thousands of local musicians, their families and extended families. They have gutted, cleared and repaired numerous homes free of charge. To better understand the unselfish commitment of these volunteers, listen to Brian Denzer from WTUL’s Community Gumbo give an interview with the krewe. If this won’t help you understand the depth of their commitment and the positive impact they have had on the community, nothing else will.
Community Gumbo Interview

For more information on AWK visit
The Arabi Wrecking Krewe


Common Ground provides short-term relief for victims of hurricane disasters in the Gulf Coast region, and long-term support in rebuilding the community affected in the New Orleans area. They are collecting toys to give to deserving children this holiday season. Please give a child an opportunity once this year to wake up to an optimistic future. For more information visit

Common Ground

Santa’s Quarters in the French Quarter is offering a special discount to people who donate to The Holiday Décor & Toy Drive. Not only do you get 15% off any item you buy in the store to donate, but 15% off your entire purchase! Please take advantage of their incredible generosity. You can also drop off any ornaments or toys at that location. They have an incredible selection of artificial Christmas trees, lights, ornaments, nativity scenes and much more. Come visit the husband and wife team who have been part of our local landscape for over thirty years.

1025 Decatur Street. Daily from 10-6
Santa’s Quarters


You can also drop off decorations and unwrapped toys at the following business locations

Tommy Crane Group, Realtors
3702 Bienville St
Monday-Friday from 8:30 to 5:00
Tommy Crane Group


Vespa of New Orleans
901 Julia Street
Tuesday to Friday from 10-6
Saturday 10-5
Vespa New Orleans


To mail tax-deductible contributions, please send them to
Big Easy Rollergirls
P.O. Box 19751
New Orleans, LA 70179
Please make your checks out to Arabi Wrecking Krewe or Common Ground (or both)! In the memo please write, “Holiday Décor and Toy Drive” or HDTD. Please get them to us by Friday, December 15th so we can get them to the families.


Flattery sits in the parlor, when plain-dealing is kicked out of doors.

Now is everyone’s chance to bask in the parlor of well-wishes from The Big Easy Rollergirls. For some finespun flummery visit them and their golden tongues when they are guest flatterers December 3rd and 10th for Festivus. This holiday market for locals features over 40 regional artists, live music, food, Office of Homeland Serenity Massage, Flattery Booth and a re-gifting station. Buy local! Aside from handing out compliments, the rollergirls will be collecting decoration and toys at that time. For even more adulation and panegyrizing, donate! Festivus is located on 700 Magazine (corner of Gird) from 12-4. For more information visit
Festivus

Catch Crusty McKnuckle, Little Miss Ruffit, CHEAP THR!LL, Trixie la Femme & KelKat this Sunday, December 3rd from 12-4

Return on Sunday, December 10th from 12-2 for Trixie la Femme, SmasHer, Diamond Grrrl & Little Miss Ruffit. Come back and enjoy the second shift from 2-4 with Mace m Dixon, Jaws & Lit Dan.


Of course, The Big Easy Rollergirls will have a bin set up for donations at their next bout, Saturday, December 16th at Mardi Gras World. Give a donation and get a free drink ticket. Buy your tickets now at
Rollergirl Tickets

Please support your community by buying from local businesses and artisans. For more information on local businesses, check out Buy Local at
Buy Local

And of course, you can always buy local from The Big Easy Rollergirls. Why not give the one you love a BERG t-shirt, keychain or koozie? Check out our other fabulous merchandise at
BERG Merch

Please contact Sally Asher: sallyasher727@yahoo.com or
Christy Wood : crustymcknuckle@gmail.com for more information.

P.S. While we are re-tooling our gallery page, please check out our photographer, Scott Stuntz’s page for images from our bouts.
Muttshotz