With the summer ever looming in New Orleans and the service industry coming almost to a halt for 3 months, do you know what adults do for entertainment? I think you know. I think you know.

November of 2024 I began a new job, bright eyed and bushy tailed at New Orleans’ one and only lifestyle club. It took a minute to settle in and find my role with the crew and the regulars but find it I did. I became the most feared of the staff because I was not shy in regards to safety and consent. It took a minute for everyone to find a balance, and a harmony we were all comfortable with but after we settled, here came Mardi Gras.

Its was anything and everything you could expect and then a lil lagniappe on top of that. But the one thing that stood out the MOST was the amount of condoms we were flying through. hundreds a night. It dawned on me, if people had access to condoms they would actually use them. If they had dental dams they would use them. Internal condoms, they would use them.

New Orleans has a plethora of places that give them out for free but who wants to walk into a clinic and stuff their pockets full of condoms? And what of the younger crowd that can’t get to the little bucket at the neighborhood bar?

And what of the rural areas, the home bound folks, the not out yet individuals that don’t want to answer questions to acquaintances. The at-risk that can’t go out in the oppressive heat of July and August.

So here we are. Stuffing envelopes in my ‘lil 9th ward apartment to mail out to you and yours.

With any luck we will be an actual 501(c)3 soon and we will be able to access bigger and better resources but until then,

Be bold and brave and be safe. I love you <3

Nikki E.