Wake

New Orleans based nonprofit dedicated to equitable and sustainable deathcare.

05/07/2026

Wake's GiveNOLA Day campaign was everything we needed it to be: a financial shot in the arm, a friend-raiser, and a reminder of how wonderful this community can be. We raised $5,855 with a record 93 donations thanks to our amazing community!

We don't need to tell you all how challenging fundraising has been over the past couple of years. Times are tough for everyone in this space as the nonprofit sector has taken a huge hit. This campaign feels like the antidote to that bad news - an example of how we come together as a community to lift one another up in ways big and small.

This is mutual aid, which through no coincidence, is exactly what we plan to grow with these funds. We've seen the "caregiver crisis" in effect as individuals living alone, without a sufficient support network, face the inevitable challenges of aging and illness. We are gearing up to pilot our Communities of Care program, where we facilitate the coming together of people to support one another with simple activities of daily living, providing social connection and engaging in structured conversations about life goals, caregiving preferences, and end-of-life planning. We believe that fostering these trust bonds will result in more care and connection in our community, and less stress and overwhelm when we necessarily confront these inevitable challenges.

You make this work possible and we are so excited to share the highlights with you as we roll out the program in the weeks and months ahead!

05/04/2026

Tonight at midnight our campaign to build a Community of Care officially begins. Thanks to an amazing showing from our community we knocked out our early giving goal of $1,000. Now we're crossing fingers and toes we make it to the finish line of $7,000 by midnight tomorrow so we can pilot our Community of Care program.

A Community of Care is a circle of social connection between unrelated people in the community who come together to learn and practice mutual aid in order to foster trust bonds meant to endure through the lifespan.

Help us launch the Communities of Care Program and bring companionship, connection, and support to all.

To donate: https://www.givenola.org/organization/Wake-Education

05/03/2026

If we’re lucky enough to grow old, each of us will one day be a caregiver, need a caregiver, or both. The need for connection, dignity, and support doesn’t fade with age. Yet too many older adults in our community are navigating this stage of life alone, without the relationships and resources they need.

In Orleans Parish, nearly half of households are made up of a single person, and more than one-third include someone over 60. Many older adults are aging in isolation. It doesn’t have to be this way.

This year, we’re raising $7,000 to launch the Community of Care Program, a peer-led model that builds lasting relationships and mutual support networks. Help us create a future where no one ages alone.

To donate: https://www.givenola.org/organization/Wake-Education

05/02/2026

Communities of Care, led by Wake and NOAGE, will be implemented across the Greater New Orleans region. The program will engage 50 trained volunteers to support 30 older adults through ongoing, repeated points of contact. Volunteers will assist with simple activities of daily living, provide social connection, and facilitate structured conversations about life goals, caregiving preferences, and end-of-life planning. The program will reduce isolation, strengthen informal caregiving networks, and increase preparedness for aging-related transitions. Expected outcomes include increased social support, documented care preferences, and sustained, trust-based communities of care that endure across participants’ lifespans.

You can help launch this program by donating today!
https://www.givenola.org/organization/Wake-Education

05/01/2026

While Communities of Care have traditionally supported individuals within healthcare systems, those institutional structures often end at death. Our model extends beyond clinical care, sustaining support through end of life and memorialization.

Rooted in New Orleans’ longstanding tradition of mutual aid, Communities of Care integrates practical assistance, trust-building, and advance planning within peer-led networks that endure throughout participants’ lifespan, and beyond.

Help us launch this new program by donating today: https://www.givenola.org/organization/Wake-Education

04/30/2026

Caregiving is not a question of if, but when. We all deserve companionship, support, and to be remembered. Wake’s Communities of Care program is building those bonds now bringing people together to practice mutual aid and show up for one another across a lifetime. Help us reach our $7,000 goal to launch this powerful pilot. Click Here to donate: https://www.givenola.org/organization/Wake-Education

04/29/2026

From companionship to caregiving to remembrance, we are all connected by the need for care. Wake’s Communities of Care initiative brings people together to build lasting relationships rooted in trust and mutual support. With a goal of $7,000 this year, we’re laying the foundation for a stronger, more connected community one circle at a time. Click to donate: https://www.givenola.org/organization/Wake-Education

04/28/2026

Today marks the start of the GiveNOLA Day fundraising extravaganza, which will culminate in a 24-hour rush to the finish line on May 5th. We're thrilled to take part in this event, sponsored by the Greater New Orleans Foundation, that brings so much joy and bounty to our community’s nonprofits.

This year Wake has set a goal of $7,000 to pilot the Communities of Care program, a circle of social connection between unrelated people in the community who come together to learn and practice mutual aid in order to foster trust bonds meant to endure through the lifespan.

Help us launch the Communities of Care Program and help bring companionship, connection, and support to all!

To donate today: https://www.givenola.org/organization/Wake-Education

03/23/2026

A “green” burial reimagines this final chapter by embracing a return to nature free from chemicals, elaborate caskets, and long-term environmental strain. Instead, the body is laid to rest in a biodegradable container, allowing for natural decomposition and renewal within the earth.

So why isn’t this more common? Accessibility challenges, traditional practices, and industry norms often make green burials the exception rather than the rule. But as awareness grows, so does the opportunity to choose a path that aligns with both personal values and environmental care, proving that even in death, our choices can make a meaningful difference.

03/05/2026

Calling all New Orleans-area Death Doulas, Hospice Workers, Caregivers, Healers, Funeral Directors, Estate Planners... if you work with people at the end of life, we'd like to meet you! Let's brainstorm how to best connect, support each other, and share resources, skills, and knowledge!

Wake’s monthly Community Deathcare Meeting is open to anyone working in end-of-life care in the New Orleans area, as a volunteer or professionally, and to anyone interested in doing that work. It’s an opportunity to meet each other, share resources, and explore how we can support one another in meeting the needs of our community.

This month, we'll talk about Advance Directives (Living Will, Healthcare Power of Attorney, and Funeral and Disposition of Remains Directive) — who needs them (hint: just about everybody), how to talk about them, and where to get them and get them notarized.

A note about Propeller: Parking is available, and the building entrance is through the glass double doors at the back of the front parking lot. The doors may be locked, but we'll be watching for you, and someone will let you in!

01/12/2026

Wake had the pleasure of having a table at the 2026 New Orleans Community Organizing Fair, where they shared information about Wake’s Advanced Care Planning program and offered opportunities to get involved through a volunteer sign-up. Wake also distributed resources highlighting Crime Survivors NOLA, helping connect community members with additional support and advocacy services.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn more about our mission!

Address

New Orleans, LA

Website

http://wake.education/, https://linktr.ee/wakedeathcare

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