Central Louisiana's generous spirit pours out for Hurricane Ian victims. How you can help.
Brooksy Semple’s heart broke when she watched the news and saw the destruction Hurricane Ian left behind in Florida, Cuba and the Carolinas.
“If I were in their shoes, what would I do,” she said. “Pray for the generosity of other people.”
So when Catholic Charities of Central Louisiana put the word out last week that they were going to be collecting supplies Sunday afternoon at St. James Episcopal Church, she brought juice, candles, lighters and a flashlight.
“I donate any time I can to a good cause,” she said.
Catholic Charities volunteers gathered at the St. James Episcopal Day to unload items from donors’ vehicles, sort through supplies and load them onto trailers so they would be ready for the 11-hour drive to a warehouse in Ocala, Fla., Monday morning.
Venice, Fla., is where most of the donations are going since it was hardest hit, said the Rev. John Brocato, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Colfax and St. Patrick in Montgomery. There is another warehouse in Venice, but the roads leading there are impassable, he added.
“We have been able to collaborate with the Episcopal Diocese, specifically St. James Church, because of our long-term work in the Long-Term Recovery Group, so we work together in disaster relief and that has made us stronger and more effective,” said Jennifer Gilchrist, director of operations for Catholic Charities.
The Central Lousiana Long-Term Recovery Group is comprised of local nonprofit and community representatives who help those who are unable to get help through traditional resources to recover from disasters.
More:Hurricane Ian death toll climbs to at least 68; over 4,000 people rescued in Florida: Updates
Gulf Coast residents are united by past hurricane experiences and know the destruction they can cause, said Brocato.
Executive directors from the Catholic Charities organizations around the state came together on a call to see how they could mobilize and help people in Florida, Gilchrist said. An Emergency Management Specialist who works for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Florida sent them a list of items needed with the top three being tarps, water and non-perishable food.
All of the Catholic Charities organizations throughout Louisiana pledged to give what they could, Brocato said.
“I feel it’s my duty. Just being able to help people and support them,” said Hunter Andries, who along with his mother, Donna Andries, dropped off a little bit of everything on the list.
Sunday was the the only time Catholic Charities will be collecting supplies to send to Florida, Gilchrist said. But money donations will still be accepted at www.cccenla.org.
“We will be writing a check to the Diocese of Venice because they were the ones that were heaviest hit,” Brocato said.
All of the money collected will go toward relief efforts to purchase items that individuals might need such as walkers or other items that wouldn’t necessarily be on a supply list, Gilchrist said.
The outpouring of support for victims of Hurricane Ian is only right because it were Louisiana being impacted, Gilchrist said, they will be here with support and relief.
“Several of the Catholic Charities agencies in Florida sent volunteers to help in places affected by hurricanes in the last three years,” Brocato added.
This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Generosity of Central Louisiana pours out for Hurricane Ian victims
