A Mid-City warehouse known for turning discarded items into furniture and other pieces is opening its doors next week for a cause with much higher stakes: keeping accessible vans on the road for hundreds of New Orleanians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Floor 13 will host its first full-scale gala-style fundraiser for ArcGNO on Nov. 5, with proceeds earmarked for the nonprofit's transportation department.
The cocktail-hour event runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at Floor 13, located at 341 N. Hennessey St., according to Biz New Orleans. Guests can expect artwork, bites from chef Susan Spicer, signature cocktails, a silent auction and live music from Alexis & The Sanity, the outlet reports. Floor 13 is donating use of its warehouse space for the evening, and the business is known for turning discarded items into furniture and other pieces, per the same report.
Why Transportation Is the Focus
The money raised will go toward ArcGNO's transportation department, helping offset costs including vehicle repairs and upkeep, Biz New Orleans notes. Transportation costs rank among the nonprofit's biggest budget items, and the organization is described as responsible for the safety of hundreds of people under its care, according to the outlet's reporting.
ArcGNO's Transportation Program provides wheelchair- and walker-accessible rides for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, according to arcgno.org. Most of the individuals the organization supports do not drive and have limited access to safe, accessible public transportation, the nonprofit says on its site. Its drivers are licensed and safety-certified, helping participants reach work, community centers, outings and social events.
Per Biz New Orleans, the transportation department also transports dozens of participants daily to and from community integration centers and off-site activities, and it evacuates some participants during hurricane season when an evacuation is ordered. That evacuation role has drawn separate attention this year: ArcGNO launched a 2026 Hurricane Preparedness Campaign to help offset the costs of transportation, housing, food and individualized care during an evacuation, as reported by myneworleans.com. The organization maintains a fleet of vans, including wheelchair-accessible vehicles, but that fleet is aging and heavily used, according to the same report, which notes that ArcGNO evacuated nearly 50 people during Hurricane Ida.
Art Born From Reuse
The fundraiser also leans into a shared ethos between Floor 13 and ArcGNO: recycling and repurposing. ArcGNO participants created artwork for the silent auction in collaboration with Ricrack, a textile recycling operation, Biz New Orleans reports. Floor 13 owner Holis Hannan serves on Ricrack's board and began working with ArcGNO participants on the auction pieces, according to the outlet.
“Recycling, repurposing, and sustainability bring together organizations with complementary missions,” Heather Matthews said, according to Biz New Orleans. Matthews added that the partnership combines creativity, sustainability and opportunity, and that Floor 13 and Ricrack have embraced ArcGNO's mission, the outlet reports. Hannan said Floor 13 aims to bring people together and support organizations it cares about, and that a surprise involving art, fashion, reuse and ArcGNO participants is in development, per the same report.
Decades of Service, With a Funding Gap
ArcGNO has advanced the independence and well-being of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1953, according to arcgno.org. The nonprofit supports people with disabilities including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism across Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard, Plaquemines and St. Tammany parishes, the organization says. ArcGNO's website states it supports more than 500 individuals, while Biz New Orleans reports the figure at more than 600.
Outside funding has trickled in from other corners as well. Arc of Greater New Orleans was selected to receive a $5,000 Nexstar 30 Days of Giving grant intended to help prepare its transportation fleet and move people along with medical equipment and supplies during evacuations, according to WGNO. Such grants, paired with community events like the Floor 13 gala, reflect the patchwork of support organizers say is needed to keep accessible rides running for participants who have few other options to get to work, community centers and social events.
