Approximately $10,401,000 has been contributed to the Louisiana Baptist Convention Katrina Relief Fund, state leaders reported Nov 7.
By Brian Blackwell
LBM Newswriter
Approximately $10,401,000 has been contributed to
the Louisiana Baptist Convention Katrina Relief Fund, state leaders
reported Nov 7.
Established soon after Hurricane Katrina made
landfall in the state, gifts to the relief fund have provided food,
shelter and water for all those affected by the disaster.
Donations have helped meet the needs of pastors and
congregations in areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
One-hundred percent of all money donated has been used for disaster
relief efforts in Louisiana.
The money also has provided equipment including generators, tools and tents for relief efforts.
“Most of our equipment is 15 years old,” said Loy
Seal, Louisiana Baptist Convention Disaster Relief director. “At some
point we need to replace it and the generosity of those who have given
to the fund has allowed us to replace equipment when we needed to do
so.”
Louisiana Baptist chain saw, feeding and shower
units continue to have a strong presence in the state. Seal reported
that the state’s disaster relief units are scattered from Dequincy to
New Orleans.
He added that over 1,000 persons have volunteered to work with the
state’s relief operations since Aug. 29. Volunteers will have a
long-term presence in the area due to the devastation of the two
hurricanes.
“Disaster Relief is possible because of volunteers,”
Seal explained. “They give so much of their time and money. They’re the
best in the world.”
Though a month has passed since Hurricane Rita
devastated Southwest Louisiana – two months since Hurricane Katrina
ravaged the southeast portion of the state – volunteers still are
needed.
Individuals wanting to serve on a feeding unit can
receive on-the-job training. Those persons should contact Linda Yeager,
LBC volunteer coordinator, at (800) 622-6549. All other untrained
volunteers who want to work on a disaster relief unit in the New
Orleans area should call (504) 235-6462.
In the near future, Louisiana Baptist Disaster
Relief officials will activate tear-out units. Those persons will be
responsible for the removal of walls inside homes that may have
collected mold and other bacteria in New Orleans.
However, he stresses those units will need proper
safety equipment, including masks, rubber gloves to wear under a pair
of leather gloves, rubber boots and Tyvek suits.
Persons may contribute to ongoing Hurricanes Katrina
and Rita relief efforts by visiting www.lbc.org, calling the Louisiana
Baptist Convention relief center at (877) 487-4658 or forwarding gifts
designated “Katrina Disaster Relief” to: Louisiana Baptist Convention,
P.O. Box 311, Alexandria, LA 71309.