Volunteer Odyssey-Louisiana Flood Relief

Southern Louisiana is experiencing devastating flooding and they need your help.

You can be a hero to families in need. Can you travel to Louisiana to help? Whether you have time or money to give, you can make a huge impact starting today.

Take the step today to help those in need. Here’s how to start:

Volunteer

  • Volunteer with the Red Cross. The American Red Cross of the Mid-South is recruiting volunteers from the general public who are willing to deploy to Southern Louisiana to assist with relief efforts in response to unprecedented flooding. Attend a Disaster Service Overview & Shelter Fundamentals class next week.
  • UPDATE (8/24) “Red Cross will be holding a training class related to the volunteer effort on Thursday, August 25th, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Red Cross offices (1399 Madison Ave, Memphis). This training program is required to be considered for deployment in addition to the Volunteer Application Process.  If you have not started this process, please click this link. If you have questions, contact tiffany.crumpton@redcross.org to get started.
    If you are already in the flood-affected area, register with Volunteer Louisiana. There is a dire need of volunteers to help staff shelters, to clean up schools, etc (Note: If you live outside of this area, please do not travel on your own to volunteer. Sign up through the Red Cross. Email WestTN@redcross.org).
  • If you want to volunteer your time, we strongly encourage you to do this through the Red Cross, Salvation Army, or Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief. Please do not mobilize a grassroots effort. Red Cross is the safest and most effective way to help if you want to travel to this area. As we learn of others, we will add them to this list.

Donate

  • Donate to Red Cross. To make a financial contribution go to redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS, or text the words LAFLOODS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from these disasters.
  • To donate to a long-term recovery fund visit the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (http://disasterphilanthropy.org/) or their CrowdRise fund (https://www.crowdrise.com/cdp-flood-recovery).
  • To donate to a short-term relief fund focusing on shelter and needs assessments visit The Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s Louisiana Relief Fund (http://www.braf.org/louisiana-flood-relief).
  • For more information on how to donate cash, goods, or your time visit the Louisiana VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters) website (http://lavoad.org/how-to-help/). They also have a list of approved organizations if you would like to give directly to an organization rather than through a fund (http://lavoad.org/membership-directory/).
  • Donate to Teach for America’s relief fund for impacted corps members and alumni to replace personal belongings and to help them address needs in their classrooms and schools. You can donate to that fund here.

On-going information

We will be updating this list with the most up to date information. To add service opportunities, please contact sarah@volunteerodyssey.com