There are times in all of our lives when we need a little help along the way. In the wake of the catastrophic events surrounding Hurricane Katrina, many people wanted to help the residents of the New Orleans, but few knew how to help. The Brantley Baptist Center, however, knew exactly what needed to be done - they needed to get displaced residents into a safe, comfortable environment as soon as possible. Bringing those who had lost everything in the storm back to a sense of normalcy by putting a roof back over their heads and good, nutritiuos foods back into their bellies.

A chance meeting between Micro Matic and the Brantley Baptist Center occurred when the Micro Matic staff was in New Orleans for the 2007 Cheers Beverage Conference, an event for foodservice and hospitality executives that was held January 29th and 30th. It just so happened Micro Matic had brought a walk-in refrigerator to the show as a part of their exhibit. At the show, exhibitors and attendees saw first hand the devastation left in the wake of last year’s hurricane season. Micro Matic was introduced to a representative of the Brantley Baptist Center and learned about the incredible work they were doing for the people of New Orleans.

They had provided lodging and other amenities for hundreds of displaced New Orleans residents because they were fortunate enough to have avoided the flooding that had damaged the vast majority of the city. Unfortunately, their walk-in refrigerator and cooler were destroyed in the storm, limiting their ability to serve meals to those who so desperately needed their help. That’s when it donned on Micro Matic to donate the walk-in refrigerator they had brought to the show.

“It made perfect sense for us to donate the walk-in refrigerator, which we had shipped to New Orleans to use as an Exhibitor at the Cheers Conference, to a local organization that has done so much for victims of Hurricane Katrina and could benefit from its use.” said Peter Muzzonigro, Micro Matic President. “We were happy to offer a helping hand to The Brantley Center, whose mission is to provide aid to so many in need.”

“This donation will be very useful to our work. Our center did not suffer the flooding that struck 85% of New Orleans - but we did lose both our walk-in refrigerator and freezer to Hurricane Katrina.” says Dr. Tobey Pitman, Executive Director of The Brantley Center.

The Brantley Center, which also serves as a dormitory that provides food and shelter for volunteers from all over the country who have come to help the victims of Katrina, received the refrigerator at the conclusion of the Cheers Conference when Micro Matic employees disassembled it, transferred it to the center and reassembled it for the center’s staff, volunteers and the residents. The 6 x 8 x 10 foot refrigerator, which has a fully galvanized stainless steel and aluminum exterior and interior walls, is typically used by full-service restaurants throughout the United States. Today, the refrigerator is being used to restore order and normalcy to the lives of hundreds of New Orleans residents struggling to get back on their feet. We hope our small donation goes along way for the amzing workers, volunteers and residents of The Brantley Center.

If you would like to make a contribution to the Brantley Baptist Center you can do so by contacting them at:

Brantley Baptist Center 201 Magazine St. New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 504-523-5751