How Connecticut Residents Can Help Victims of Louisiana Flooding

It's devastation everywhere you look with flood waters destroying homes and lives in Louisiana. At least 13 people are dead and tens of thousands displaced.

"We're going to be down here for as long as we need to be," said Stefanie Arcangelo, Chief Communications Officer for the American Red Cross CT and RI.

Volunteers from all across the country are rushing in to help. Eight American Red Cross volunteers from Connecticut are there now, assessing homes, delivering much-needed supplies, and showing those affected that they're not in this alone.

"Right now our focus is on providing the feeding, the sheltering," said Arcangelo.

Another connection from Manchester to Baton Rouge is helping too.

Kristine Lajeunesse is an owner of Always Best Care Senior Services of Central Connecticut, an organization providing non-medical home care for seniors. Her close friend owns Always Best Care in Baton Rouge.

"Of her caregivers, 75 percent are without homes and cars, and a lot of their clients they're not able to reach due to the flooding," said Lajeunesse.

Always Best Care in Baton Rouge is meant to help the elderly and now it’s also helping those displaced by flooding by turning the facility into a shelter.

"She is housing currently, I believe, 7 adults. Two of those adults are not employees of hers, 7 children, a dog, and a cat," said Lajeunesse.

To help those in need, Lajeunesse and her husband purchased supplies like clothing and toys and sent them all down to Baton Rouge Friday morning. Now they're hoping to send down even more. They're asking the community to donate.

Items include: toiletries, Walmart gift cards, MasterCard and Visa gift cards, girls pants and shirts and pajamas sizes 16/18, girls underwear size 14, girls shoes size 11, boys shirts, pants and pajamas sizes 12-18 month, 2T, 3T, 6, 10/12 and 14/16, 36/30, boys underwear size 2T/3T and Large, boys 12-18-month-old clothes, and boys shoes size 4, 5.5 and 6. All items can be dropped off at Always Best Care Senior Services of Central Connecticut at 135 Center Street in Manchester M-F 8:30 am - 4 pm.

To donate to the Red Cross, visit the Red Cross website, call 1-800-Red Cross, or text LAFLOODS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

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