Hurricane Laura Donations Drive

Hurricane Laura Donations Drive

Recovery from Hurricane Laura, which made landfall in late August, continues to be slow and difficult. In addition to the impacts of Laura, the Lake Charles area of Louisiana was devastated by Hurricane Delta only a few weeks later, making an already bad situation much more worse. As emergency relief begins to dwindle and COVID-19 intensifies, UUSC’s partners in the Lake Charles area are seeking in-kind donations from now through March 2021. Information about what supplies are needed and where to send them to can be found below.

Shelter and Warm Textiles

UUSC’s partner is seeking donations of tents, sleeping bags, blankets, socks, gloves and warm clothing. They asked that these items be sent to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, which has a large fellowship hall that can store a lot more donations than they can. They are serving mostly low-income, communities of color whose homes have been damaged by the multiple hurricanes that have hit the Lake Charles area and surrounding communities. The petro-chemical waste spill caused by Hurricane Laura, the onset of winter, COVID-19 and the fact they are along Louisiana’s cancer alley makes this a public health crisis.

St. Andrew Presbyterian Church
℅ Nanette Cagney
4020 Hodges St
Lake Charles, LA 70605-2920

Building Materials and Tools

Groups are also mobilizing on the ground to help households in the Lake Charles area rebuild their homes. There is need for building tools and materials such as nails, hammers, shovels, rakes, screw-drivers, power tools, etc.  Donations of building tools and materials can be mailed to:

Jerry Egbert
202 N. Royal St.,
DeRidder, LA 70634-3854
Phone: 337-396-1657

Food

Food security is also an issue, and Second Harvest Food Bank has been doing a wonderful job to make sure that homeless folks are fed and have enough provisions. If you live in the area and are able to donate foods, please visit Second Harvest Food Bank.

Photos taken by Kelli Stawecki on December 18th, 2020.