MS Coast groups helping with Hurricane Laura relief. Here’s how you can pitch in.
Mississippi Coast residents are eager to help residents of Texas and Louisiana hit hard by Hurricane Laura, which came ashore early Thursday in Cameron, Louisiana, with winds of 150 mph.
Having survived Hurricane Camille in 1969 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, residents of the Gulf Coast also understand the needs of residents in devastated areas.
Relief efforts are just starting. The Sun Herald has compiled a list of how to donate to major nonprofits that step in after hurricanes, coupled with religious organizations and local cities and departments that have posted relief operations on Facebook.
Watch official government Facebook pages in your city or county for relief efforts, plus pages for religious organizations also instrumental in recovery. Many more groups, organizations and government entities are expected to participate in relief efforts in Laura’s aftermath.
If you want to be added to the Sun Herald’s list and are a verifiable organization working on relief, send details and a contact number to online@sunherald.com.
Red Cross relief
▪ The Red Cross is relying on donations to provide food, shelter, relief supplies and emotional support to Gulf Coast hurricane survivors.
To make a quick, $10 donation, text LAURA to 90999. You also will find donation options at on the Red Cross website or by calling 800-RED-Cross.
Salvation Army relief
▪ The Salvation Army mobilizes where people are hungry and need basic comforts, providing meals, mobile showers, bottled water and clean blankets.
The religion-based nonprofit also provides emotional and spiritual care for responders and survivors, and works with government agencies on longterm disaster relief. Donate by visiting the Salvation Army’s’ website.
Cajun Navy helps after laura
▪ The Cajun Navy Relief & Rescue volunteers rescue hurricane survivors in life-threatening situations. The organization is a registered nonprofit, where other Cajun Navy impostors are not.
The group needs cleaning materials and supplies, including rubber boots, mosquito repellant, bleach, wipes, gloves, masks, respirators and disinfectants. Donations for supplies can be made to the organization’s PayPal account.
To learn more, visit The Cajun Navy Relief & Rescue website.
Religious organizations helping
▪ Episcopal Relief & Development: The Hurricane Relief Fund helps affected communities in the U.S. and Caribbean devastated by hurricanes and tropical storms, including Marco and Laura. Donations provide critical supplies such as food, water and other basics, and to offer longterm assistance.
▪ Gulfport First United Methodist Church: GFUMC is working with partners to fill an 18-wheeler trailer with supplies to help feed residents and relief workers in Southwest Louisiana.
Items for meal distribution are requested, including full-size aluminum pans and lids; utensil packs of disposable forks, spoons, and napkins; 500-foot rolls of heavy aluminum foil; No. 10 cans of fruits and vegetables; and 3-compartment, clam-shell Styrofoam boxes. Clothing and home-canned goods can’t be accepted.
The trailer will be in the parking lot of the future St. Matthew Lutheran Church at 11213 U.S. Hwy 49 next to Dunkin’ Donuts, Dropoff hours are 4-6 p.m. Thursday, 4-8 p.m. Friday and 8 am. to noon Saturday.
▪ St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church will be a drop-off location for Hurricane Laura relief starting Aug. 29 from 3:30-6:30 p.m., Aug. 30 from 7 a.m.-noon and 5-6:30 p.m. and then Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5-6:30 p.m. Requested items are tarps, first aid items, cleaning supplies, batteries diapers, toiletries and non-perishable food. A tractor trailer market “hurricane relief” will be behind the church. Details: Mike Barry at 1-404-630-6624 or svdp.president@saintthomaslb.org
Government entities pitching in
▪ The City of Bay St. Louis is accepting cleanup supplies and recovery items at the Bay St. Louis Fire Department, 543 Main St., or at Fire Station #2 on Mississippi 603 from 8a.m.-4p.m. daily. Please call 228-466-5460 with any questions or to arrange large-scale pickup from your location.
▪ The Biloxi Fire Department Museum is heading a relief effort that will send volunteers to areas affected by Hurricane Laura as soon as conditions allow. Location and dates will be determined by need and ability to assist.
The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously hampered the museum’s traditional fundraising efforts. The museum has set up a GoFundMe page to accept donations, which will be used to secure needed equipment, tools and supplies.
▪ D’Iberville in collecting supplies for the victims of Hurricane Laura. Drop off cleaning and hygiene supplies at the D’Iberville Fire Station at 11288 Lamey Bridge Road between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily. No food (except for pet food) or clothing accepted. Donations of checks can be made to “Gulf Coast Community Foundation.” Gollott and Sons will transport the donations to Louisiana.
▪ The Ocean Springs Fire Department: Drop off cleaning supplies, pet products, paper supplies, hygiene products, sunscreen, baby supplies, bottled water, flashlights, tarps, first aid supplies, toiletries, bug spray, batteries, gloves and yard tools. No clothing or food items can be accepted.
The dropoff point is the Ocean Springs Fire Station at 3820 Bienville Blvd., across from Walmart, which is always open.
This story was originally published August 27, 2020 at 4:40 PM.
