 |
| American Red Cross location sign. |
Baton
Rouge, LA – Roughly two days into the start of a new school year, classes were
abruptly canceled from what many south Louisiana natives are calling, “One of
the worst natural disasters in Louisiana’s history.” As the Great Flood of 2016 vastly inundated
many homes throughout St. Helena Parish, some residents are faced with a new
reality of temporarily living in a shelter.
A local Red Cross representative stated that there are no immediate
plans to move flood victims from the Multi-purpose Center that sits right on
the Tangipahoa Parish line, but is in St. Helena Parish’s Fifth District. The representative also stated that they have
explored the option of hotel vouchers, but did not want to create other
obstacles for those who do not have access to transportation to get to work and
school.
The
shelters population consist of youth who will undoubtedly begin to have
homework, and could potentially have other stressors due to their lack of
resources or homelessness. Through the
use of the Southern University Ag Center’s Youth Educational Support Program
(Y.E.S.), displaced families can be assured that the SU Ag Center has Youth
Development Agents to meet their educational needs.
“I’ve
actually been in talks with Police Jurors and School Board Officials prior to
the natural disaster about starting an after-school program at the
Multi-purpose Center…Under these extenuating circumstances the YES Program can
definitely address some of the immediate needs, like assisting with homework
and providing ancillary activities to keep their minds off their temporary
living arrangement,” said SU Ag Center, Assistant Area Agent, Nicolette Gordon.
Gordon
will conduct a needs assessment, and will begin building a team of volunteers
who will help throughout the duration of the temporary after-school program.
For more information on volunteer opportunities, please
contact Nicolette Gordon in the St. Helena Parish Extension office on Tuesday
& Thursday at 225.222.4136 or via email at nicolette_gordon@suagcenter.com.
###
No comments:
Post a Comment