FSC Interactive has a long history of social activism and working with non-profits. So it should come as no surprise that when we learned about the recent flooding in the surrounding South Louisiana region, we immediately wanted to help.
I quickly put my social media know-how to use on Facebook, sharing resources compiled by my friends Midori Tajiri-Byrd and Mardiclaw along with other ways to help and get informed.
While this is by no means an exhaustive list, here are some of the local organizations helping victims of the recent flooding in South Louisiana and ways that you can help.
Donate Money
Well-intentioned donations of “stuff” can often overwhelm disaster recovery organizations. One of the best ways to help is by donating money to local organizations that are working on the ground to help local victims.
- Second Harvest Food Bank – Feeding South Louisiana
Donations of non-perishable food items can be made at their New Orleans warehouse or at Rouses grocery stores. Monetary donations can also be made online or at local Rouses grocery stores. You can also register to volunteer. - NOLA Pay It Forward Fund: Helping Families in Neighboring Parishes
Allows New Orleanians to provide resources for the early relief and rebuilding efforts of those communities impacted by the recent floods. Donations can be made online or by calling the Greater New Orleans Foundation at 504-598-4663. - United Way of Southeast Louisiana
Monetary donations and volunteers are needed to help flooding victims. Donations can be made online. More information about the United Way is available by calling 504-822-5540. - Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans
Monetary donations can be made online. - Convoy of Hope
Faith-based nonprofit organization taking monetary donations for flood victims. Donations can be made online. - Thinking of donating to the Red Cross?
Please consider sending your donations to one of the non-profits mentioned above. Red Cross has a long history of misusing funds donated during national and international disasters.
Volunteer, Donate Blood, Foster an Animal or Offer A Place To Stay
- Denham Springs Animal Shelter needs cat or dog foster homes ASAP!! You can apply online to foster an animal via Animal Rescue New Orleans.
- Belladoggie Resort Spa for Dogs has taken in dogs from a shelter in the affected area. Please call 504-309-9510 if you would like to volunteer, adopt dogs, or donate.
- Celtic Studios, a movie and production studio in Baton Rouge, has been transformed into a shelter for more than 2,000 evacuees. Current needs include: pillows, blankets, leashes, chairs, batteries, tape, and wheel chairs.
- Donate blood.
The Blood Center has been severely impacted by the storm. The local blood supply is critically low. If you can host a blood drive at a location, please contact 985-788-3285. - Other local organizations working on the ground in the affected regions include Concerned Citizens of St Tammany and The Ponchatoula Jaycees.
- Want to offer up space in your home to victims of the flooding in South Louisiana, or need to find a place to stay? Connect with others via AirBnB to find and offer free places to stay. All service fees are waived for those affected by the disaster and checking in between Aug 14, 2016 and Sep 04, 2016.
Donations Drop-Off Locations In New Orleans
While donations of money are always the most efficient, many New Orleans area businesses have volunteered to be drop-off locations for donations of non-perishable food items, toiletries, clothing and more:
The Louisiana SPCA has secured three New Orleans drop-off locations for pet supplies: Canine Connection, Camp Bow Wow Mid-City and Demo Diva. Supplies will be picked-up by the Louisiana SPCA and hand-delivered to animal shelters in the affected areas. Immediate supplies needed include metal buckets with clipping carabiners, wire pet crates in various sizes, leashes, unopened dry cat and dog food and metal water bowls.
NOLA Eater also has an extensive list of New Orleans bars and restaurants that are accepting donations or donating proceeds of earnings to benefit flood victims.
Jefferson Parish Parent is hosting a donation drive this week. A list of dropoff locations in Jefferson Parish is listed on their Facebook page. On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the City of Gulfport is also collecting donations.
New Orleans Moms Blog and Northshore Parent have also posted additional lists of resources & ways to help.
How Do We Prevent Future Flooding Disasters?
While disaster cannot always be avoided, the loss of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands plays a big role in the frequency and scope of flooding disasters like this one. In this weekend’s flood many areas that had never been flooded before experienced many feet of water. Our coastal wetlands play a vital role in protecting our South Louisiana communities from floodwaters.
“The Mississippi River Delta is disappearing at an astonishing rate: A football field of wetlands vanishes into open water almost every hour.” ~ via MississippiRiverDelta.org
Learn more about the loss of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands and organizations working to help: