After days of rain caused deadly flood conditions in southern Louisiana this week, several local folks are collecting supplies to help our neighbors to the south.
Former Louisiana resident and current University of Arkansas employee Jean Button has organized a supply drive this week and plans to deliver a truckload of relief items to the area affected by the flood.
The Fayetteville Public Library (401 W. Mountain St.) and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (224 N. East St.) are serving as supply drop-off locations from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. through Friday, Aug. 19. The library is asking for donations to be dropped off at the loading dock inside the Rock Street parking garage entrance, and St. Paul’s is accepting donations in their Welcome Center/South Parish Hall.
Both locations are accepting non-perishable food items, clean clothes and underwear, linens, towels, pillows, blankets, batteries, toilet paper, and other immediate needs.
St. Paul’s Episcopal has underwritten the cost of the truck for the delivery, and is also accepting monetary donations to help cover those costs.
Button said she has been in touch with the Celtic Center Shelter and Distribution Center in Baton Rouge, as well as several animal organizations in the area about donating the supplies to one of those organizations, but that could change between now and Friday.
“The Baton Rouge Food Bank is flooded, but they say they may be in a new temporary location by the time we get there,” Button said. “The plan is really to get it to whoever needs it most.”
A full list of needed items is below.
More information about the supply drive is available here.
Louisiana Donation Drive Items
Non-perishable food
Clean clothes and underwear (please bring clean, folded, new if possible)
Linens
Towels, washcloths
Pillows
Blankets
Towels
Camp chairs
Batteries
Toilet paper
Soap (bath, dishwashing, detergent)
Feminine hygiene products
Adults diapers
All toiletries
Detergent
Toothbrushes
Tooth paste
First aid supplies or kits
Bleach
5-gallon gasoline jugs (only new, empty jugs will be accepted)
Gift cards ($20 amounts to Target/Walmart/gas cards/etc)
Disposable diapers (all sizes), disposable wipes
Baby formula, baby bottles, pacifiers
Baby blankets and clothing, new or clean
Toys and stuffed animals, new or very clean
For pets
Dog food
Pet food
Leashes
Dog bowls
Collapsible kennels
Small pet carriers
Old blankets, towels
Flea and tick medicine or collars
