Organizations and Community Leaders Provide Relief for Communities After Hurricane Ida
Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston-Broome is volunteering in Baton Rouge. (Picture by Rep. Cleve Dunn)
Since tragedy hit the state of Louisiana, organizations, community leaders, and companies are pitching together to help relieve people in various cities impacted by the hurricane.
Hurricane Ida hit states Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Once it made landfall, the hurricane became a Category 4 storm, making it the second-most damaging and intense hurricane to strike Louisiana.
As Louisiana’s citizens recover from the storm, the community comes together to help those in need.
The Urban League of Louisiana, Thrive New Orleans, Convoy of Care, and PepsiCo are teaming up to provide a giveaway in New Orleans. The organizations offer supplies to individuals who drive up or walk up to the Thrive 9 Community Center. The stores have non-perishable food items, water, baby formula, diapers, clothing, feminine products, cleaning supplies, and tarps.
Business owners are also helping with Hurricane Ida relief for New Orleans. Chefs and restaurant owners Nina Compton of Compère Lapin, and Melissa Martin of Mosquito Supper Club, created the Bayou Fund for residents of the Terrebonne Parish. Terrebonne Parish is one of the bayou communities that was one of the first parishes the hurricane hit once it landed in Louisiana.
“We all started realizing that the focus should be on areas that were devastated,” Compton said.
An organization called Imagine Water Works focuses on climate justice, water management, and disaster readiness and response. Members in the organization established community power charges in areas where the power’s out. Organizers Sara Slaughter and Cathy Balfe partnered with the organization to help those affected by Hurricane Ida.
Community members and leaders coming together to give back to the Baton Rouge area. (Picture by Cleve Dunn)
Cities surrounding the New Orleans area also lending themselves to the relief efforts. Mayor-President Sharon Weston-Broome and District 6 Councilman Cleve Dun Jr. joined forces with several organizations, representatives, restaurants, and community leaders to serve breakfast to families who did not have power the week the hurricane hit.
One of those organizations that helped out with that was the Langston Galloway Foundation, started by guard basketball player of the Phoenix Suns and Louisiana native Langston Galloway. Galloway and his wife, Sabrina, provided meals and support to families in the cities of Baton Rouge and New Orleans who lost power and their homes amid the storm.
“Hurricane Ida devastated our home state of Louisiana on August 29th, and we are responding to the aftermath,” Sabrina said. “Our small part in the work that’s being done to help restore and provide relief to our friends and family across South Louisiana.”
Representative Edward James II (L) with Councilwoman Erika Green (M) and other volunteers. (Picture provided by Cleve Dunn)
Representative Edward James II said he was touched by the togetherness of the two cities helping their respected communities.
“Many of the community leaders I’ve worked with this week have been without power themselves, working to repair physical damage to their homes, staying with relatives, and caring for elderly family members,” Representative James said. “Any one of these will upset your mental stability. I salute them for not neglecting our shared responsibility to the people of our city.”
People can donate money or volunteer their time towards the relief of Hurricane Ida.