• Jon Kalahar

Lake Charles Officer Delivers Food to Residents Forced from Homes in SE Texas

Lake Charles, Louisiana – In a disaster the size of Harvey, it takes more than one organization to help those in need. As the saying goes, “it takes a village”, in this situation, it took an army, and a navy. Rising waters flooded out two shelters in Southeast Texas near Orange leaving an unprepared elementary school as the only option for many evacuees. The school had no food, cots or blankets.

“We were contacted by our local television station, KPLC, who heard from the Cajun Navy, there were 250 people in a make shift shelter in West Orange, Texas with no food,” said Lieutenant Donna Watts, Lake Charles Corps Officer.

Lieutenant Watts decided she would deliver the food, but again, more groups would come together to make the food. Catholic Charities, the Carey Baptist Association, and the United Way pitched in volunteers to make meals for dinner and breakfast Thursday morning.

“I was able to take some time and provide and emotional and spiritual care to several of those in the shelter,” said LT Watts. “They are still in shock as you can imagine.”

While Lieutenant Watts was on site many evacuees and people rescued by local law enforcement were still being brought into the shelter. She says the plan is to bus those who want to go Lake Charles to a better prepared location.

“We are helping prepare meals in Lake Charles, so any one that has to evacuate here will have a place to sleep and hot meals,” said LT Watts.

How People Can Help

The best way to help after a disaster is to make a financial donation. Monetary contributions also support local economies and ensure that businesses can operate when relief supplies diminish.

Online: helpsalvationarmy.org 

Donate By Phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY 

Mail Checks to: 

The Salvation Army PO Box 1959 Atlanta, GA 30301   

 Please designate “Hurricane Harvey” on all checks. 

Text to Give: STORM to 51555