Wake

A nonprofit organization

$660 raised by 7 donors

9% complete

$7,000 Goal

Every single one of us, if we live long enough, is likely to experience being a caregiver, needing a caregiver, or both. The need for companionship and emotional connection does not diminish as we age, and the need for physical assistance only increases over our lifespan. We also need people to lay us to rest and to remember us after we’re gone.

Yet a growing number of people lack social support and connection as they age. An estimated 45% of households in Orleans Parish are single-person and that number is expected to increase in the coming years. Contemporary urban life can leave older residents isolated, medically vulnerable, and unprepared for their caregiving needs.

A community-based, peer-led model is urgently needed to normalize planning conversations and build sustainable networks of care.

This year we have set a fundraising goal of $7,000 to pilot the Community 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 Community of Care Program and help bring companionship, connection, and support to those who need it.

Giving Activity

Mission

We are a community of deathcare workers.

We are caregivers, educators, and advocates.

We are also the bereaved.

Too often, families face this inevitable final chapter without clear information, affordable options, or trusted support. Even with committed providers across the healthcare and funeral industries, the complex systems, high costs, limited legal options, and depth of grief can turn loss into crisis, especially for those already facing the greatest barriers.

We know death is a part of life, and we believe everyone in our community should receive end-of-life care that honors their life, community, and environment.

So, at no cost to clients, we connect people to the information, planning, and resources they need for end-of-life, so fewer families face financial and emotional harm.

We believe our community is best served when healthcare providers, funeral professionals, and community organizations work together. Wake collaborates across these systems to expand informed options, educational offerings, and dignified care in New Orleans.

Wake's mission is to help people access meaningful, affordable, and environmentally sustainable deathcare.