South Louisiana Flooding & How You Can Help

Last Thursday was our first day of school. As you know I’m a middle school teacher by day in Central, Louisiana. My seventh graders entered in my classroom to get to know a bit about me and my English class, and I took the little time I had to try to get to know a few of them.

One part of my class was dedicated to talking about the summer reading. Since I’ve been teaching for six years now, I know good and well not ALL my students completed the summer reading. And that some never started.

I took about 5 minutes to put on my “mean, intimating face” to try to scare the kids into completing the reading over the weekend.

I was giving them Friday and the weekend to catch up (you know, just in case they haven’t finished — or started). I warned them that on Monday (yesterday) we would dive right into the reading, and told them they didn’t want to start off the school year already behind.

Really there was nothing in my mind that could be a good enough excuse for them to NOT complete the summer reading over the weekend.

Then… Thursday it rained. Friday it rained. Saturday it rained. Sunday it rained. Monday it rained.

I had no idea what these kids were about to face. And let me tell you — there are worse things than them not completing the summer reading.

Who cares about summer reading now? Not me. Not my kids.

Many of them have lost everything to the flooding.

I’ve received hundreds of messages from co-workers and friends whose homes and cars have been completely flooded, people who were rescued by boat and even helicopter. People don’t know where their loved ones are. Cell phones aren’t working. People are without power, food, and clean clothes.

There is so much that needs to be done here and so many people in need of help.

It will be a long road ahead and who knows when I’ll get to see my students again, but if there’s one thing I’ve really seen shine through during all of this - it’s our sense of community and love for one another during some of the scariest times we’ve ever faced.

I’m so happy to call this place home.

How You Can Help

Many businesses and organizations are accepting donations to help those affected in South Louisiana. See below for needed items as well as drop off locations and businesses who are raising money.

Needed Items:

Diapers
Baby Wipes
Toilet Paper
Toothpaste + Tooth brushes
Feminine Hygiene Products
Deodorant
Adult and children clothing - all sizes
Socks
Underwear
School Supplies
School Uniforms
Pillows
Blankets
Dog Crates
Dog Food
Cleaning Products

Drop Off Locations:

Capital Area United Way (700 Laurel Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802) is accepting financial donations, as well as donated goods at their office. You can also text LAFLOOD to 313131 from your mobile device. For volunteer information visit volunteerlouisiana.gov
Tin Roof Brewing Co. (1624 Wyoming St, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802) is serving as a drop off location for any donated clothing, canned goods and supplies. You can drop off any supplies during their taproom hours.
Court & Layne Boutique (1210 N Airline Hwy, Set 10, Gonzales, Louisiana 70737) is serving as a drop off location for items such as clothing, water, blankets, diapers, wipes, toiletries, and any other necessary items.
The Cottonport Bank (6500 Corporate Blvd. and 110 West St. Francis St.) will accept donations of men’s, women’s, and children’s underwear; cleaning supplies; toiletry items; baby products; paper products; first aid items; over-the-counter medicines; adult diapers and dog food from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Lamar-Dixon Expo Center (9039 S St Landry Ave, Gonzales, LA 70737) is currently serving as a shelter and is accepting socks (all sizes, infants to adults), aloe lotion, baby items (wipes, snacks, bottles, pacifiers, formula, nursery water, diapers of all sizes, pull-ups, baby shampoo, powder, lotion and Mylicon drops), dog food (canned or dry), ropes and buckets for horses, horse food and adult diapers.
Imagine Boutique (109 West Thomas St. Hammond, LA 70401) is accepting toiletries and non-perishable food at the store to donate.
The Overpass Merchant (2904 Perkins Rd. Baton Rouge) is running a special on all weekly plate lunches. They will be $5 with a donation in the form of non perishable foods, pet food, diapers, blankets, cleaning supplies or clothing.
GAP at the Mall of Louisiana is hosting a uniform drive. They’re accepting new and lightly used uniforms for boys and girls. Tops include white, burgundy, or navy Polo. Bottoms included khaki pants, shirts and skirts. Items can be dropped off in-store. For more information contact Brandon at GAP at 225-761-0400.

Shop For a Cause:

All proceeds from the LA Fight The Flood T-shirt sale will go directly to flood relief. Shop here.
SFT is donating $15 to the BRAF Louisiana Flood Relief Fund to help in the recovery of the flooded Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank for every Cajun Navy shirt sold. You can also see more flood relief efforts on their page here.
Sosis is donating 100% of the profits made from any sales of their LYLAS/SoSis tees to the American Red Cross, Louisiana Capital Area-West which supports the Capital Area, Acadiana and Southwest Louisiana. Shop here.
To donate to the Red Cross, visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word LAFLOODS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Hands Producing Hope is donating 40% of all sales through the end of August to help with relief efforts.
Hemline (16645 Highland Rd, Ste Q, 70810) is donating 5% of all sales this week to the United Way Flood Relief.