FOCUS: KATRINA/RITA RESPONSE FUNDhis voice, David Britt clears his throat in an attempt to speak again about the tremendous pride he has in the Central Louisiana community for their

urricane Katrina cut a path of death and destruction along the Gulf Coast and intoLouisiana at the end of August 2005. Demolishing structures and also breakingthe hearts of people across Louisiana, our country and around the world.

But in the midst of this tragedy, the strength and generosity that has always been partof Louisiana's culture continued to burn bright, as neighbors, friends and strangers cametogether to help the thousands of evacuees who lost their homes, their belongings - evenmembers of their families.

(continued on page 2)

1W o r k i n g t o g e t h e r f o r h e a l t h i e r c o m m u n i t i e s

Hurricane Katrina storm clouds roll over the south Louisiana landscape.

a publication of the rapides foundation winter 2006@ &

Health Well-Being

An American TragedyHits Home For

Central Louisiana

H

F O C U S : K A T R I N A / R I T A R E S P O N S E F U N D

K A T R I N A / R I T A

Joe Rosier, President and CEO,The Rapides Foundation

2

Foundation Quickly Responds

(continued from page 1)

(continued)

W o r k i n g t o g e t h e r f o r h e a l t h i e r c o m m u n i t i e s

“With Katrina, we were all convinced this wasan extraordinary, once-in-a-Century, once-a-millennium event – it was the ‘Big One,’” Rosiersaid.

Katrina’s rampage through the Deep South’scenter of culture and commerce did more thanwreck buildings, businesses and lives. It remindedall that a healthy community requires some basicelements to enable and support quality of life,no matter the setting. The Foundation believesthat communities must work together to supporthealth and well-being for families and neighbors.

Suspending its grantmaking policies in orderto help achieve this goal and to help thethousands of displaced evacuees in CentralLouisiana was the “right thing to do” as Rosierexplains, but moreover, the organizations thathave worked so hard to take care of them alsoneeded help. These organizations, large and small,are what brought the Foundation back to itsroots in looking at long-term change or the long-term effects of Katrina while still going out on alimb to help a community, a state, in need.

One of the Foundation’s primary concernswas that the impact on this region wascumulatively not only going to impact all theindividual lives of evacuees, but it was also goingto impact this area’s entire nonprofit service

And within days The Rapides Foundationjoined that effort and began looking for ways tohelp the evacuees who fled to Central Louisianato escape Katrina's fury.

In the days following the fallout from thedisaster, The Rapides Foundation quickly sprunginto action, suspending its grantmaking policyin order to make an unprecedented $1 milliondonation to the Central Louisiana United Way’sCentral Louisiana Katrina/Rita Response Fund andpledging up to $500,000 for nine school districtsin the Cenla area to help defray the costs schoolsincurred for evacuated students.

“We made the donation pretty quickly,”Joe Rosier, President and CEO of The RapidesFoundation, said. “As a Foundation, we were afraidthat if we waited 30 days, while half the evacueeswould possibly have gone home or moved on,whatever was needed may not have been done.We would not have been able to go back andundo the evacuees’ suffering during that timehad we not acted swiftly.”

Known for its philanthropic efforts, TheRapides Foundation is one of the largestendowed charitable foundations in Louisianaand has been in existence since September 1994.It provides funding for programs that are workingto improve community health.

Through its grants, The Rapides Foundationseeks to bring about broad-based improvementsin the health of the community, Rosier explained.In order to do that, the Foundation works in areasthat try to address the issues that drive, impactor improve health. To change health, be itchanging systems or changing behaviors is verylong-term work. Rosier believes the Foundationis uniquely equipped to have discipline over along period of time to accomplish these goalsand this is the “highest and best place” for itsefforts. Over time, he said the Foundation hasdeveloped the work they do, but then alongcame Hurricane Katrina.

American Tragedy

“ With Katrina, we were all

convinced this was an

extraordinary, once-in-a-Century,

once-a-millennium event –

it was the ‘Big One.’ ”

3


www.rapidesfoundation.org


(continued)

infrastructure – possibly to the point that it wouldbe unable to respond to future disasters. “Afterthese organizations responded to Katrina,” Rosiersaid, “the Foundation believed this infrastructurewould be crippled for generations to comebecause they would have pulled out all theirresources to help evacuees and it would havebeen very difficult to replenish that.”

Rosier further explained that this endeavorwas definitely an “about-face” for the Foundationand was extremely different from the status quo.

Since the Foundation deals with long-termchange, Rosier said both he and the Board realizedright away that this was different and critical andwas “something we don’t think will happen againfor the rest of our careers here.” All members ofthe Foundation felt, initially, that disaster fundingas a response to Katrina was a worthyconsideration. Board members weighed thedecision knowing ahead of time that this fundingis risky. “But we believed then and we believenow that the risk was definitely worth it,” Rosiersaid.

In the first two weeks following the storm,Rosier believes it was all about water and food

and a roof over evacuees’ heads and theFoundation decided to address this. TheFoundation’s Board members realized that peoplewaded out of water, were put on a bus, droppedoff on a doorstep in the Central Louisianacommunity and they may have had only a bottleof water in their hands. Katrina evacuees certainlyneeded much more.

“In order to meet these needs, we had to takethe risk,” said Regionald Seastrunk, BoardChairman for The Rapides Foundation. “Weassessed that and said the risk of taking actionfar outweighed those of not doing anything. Wewere willing to make this investment knowing itwas not 100 percent grantmaking and that it wasabout a need that was right here, right now. Webelieved this situation could have bankruptedthe resources of the nonprofits that were goingto be called upon.”

Seastrunk believes the donation to the Katrinafund not only allowed the Foundation to helpevacuees, but also enabled all the entities thatresponded to hopefully be whole after doing so.

In the early days right after the storm, churchesand other organizations just threw open their

(continued on page 4 )

The Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans 2 months after Hurricane Katrina. This house is on West End Blvd., just blocksfrom the 300 ft. levee breach on the 17th Street Canal. The area was flooded with over 12 ft. of water and sat submergedfor weeks. They are not projected to have electricity until March or later.

The Foundation’s Board

members realized that

people waded out of

water, were put on a bus,

dropped off on a

doorstep in the Central

Louisiana community

and they may have had

only a bottle of water in

their hands. Katrina

evacuees certainly

needed much more.

4


doors and weren’t thinking about 24/7 airconditioning and the whopping utility bill they’dbe getting in 45 days or that their checkingaccount might not even cover it. “For me and therest of our Board, we had to really get comfortablewith the fact that we wouldn’t be setting aprecedent that we now fund social services,”Seastrunk said. “We just said this is so big and sodifferent that we are compelled to do it and it isabsolutely the right thing to do. Now, we areready to get back to our normal work and notlose our focus – to improve community healthin Central Louisiana.”

As to how the idea for the donation cameabout, Rosier explained that it came from withinthe Foundation. He then touched base with theFoundation’s Chairman of the Board, to discussgoing to work on a special fund. Rosier said aspecial Board meeting was called, which is rareand illustrates the extraordinary nature of thiseffort.

“As a Foundation, we realized help was neededimmediately after this disaster. We abandonedour grant cycle, our deadlines and called ourBoard because they, too, realized the significanceof this and all agreed – ‘let’s do it,’” Rosier said.

After Hurricane Rita hit theCenla area, the United Wayrenamed the fund theCentral LouisianaKatrina/Rita Response Fundand money becameavailable to thoseorganizations that helpedevacuees from both storms.To date, The RapidesFoundation’s donation to

the United Way’s Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Fundhas helped more than 86 organizations recoupcosts and provide for evacuees still staying withinthe confines of their shelters with a myriad ofneeds. As for the Foundation’s education funding,close to $500,000 has been paid out to schoolsthat enrolled over 5,000 children in CentralLouisiana communities.

Rosier says the Foundation is very proud tohave been able to help Cenla and the evacueesfrom both storms. Additionally, he feels the public-at-large also believes the Foundation really “gotit right.” Rosier has heard nothing but positivecomments about both the Foundation’scontributions. “As a matter of fact,” he stated, “thishas been pretty widely credited to us as a goodthing throughout philanthropy and the nonprofitworld that we did this and it was fairly immediate.”

Rosier wants to be clear in pointing out thatthe Foundation did not make the donation forany kind of recognition but because it “was quitesimply the right thing – the only thing – to dounder the circumstances.

“What compelled us to give was the impactthis would have on the ability of our community’sorganizations to respond and continue with theirmissions once the crisis was over,” he said. “Weknow they would have figured something out.But because we could help, we did.”

American Tragedy(continued from page 3)

(left) Flooding in New Orleansin the aftermath of HurricaneKatrina. The flood water in thisMetairie neighborhood wasjust over five feet.


ith tears in his eyes and a crack inhis voice, David Britt clears his

throat in an attempt to speak againabout the tremendous pride he has

in the Central Louisiana community for theiroverwhelming support of Hurricane Katrina/Ritavictims, and their unending generosity in helpingevacuees in a myriad of ways, including donatingto the United Way’s Central Louisiana Katrina/RitaResponse Fund.

“I worry that I will never say ‘thank you’ enoughto all the people who have helped evacuees getback on their feet after such a large-scale disaster,”Britt, President and CEO of the United Way ofCentral Louisiana, said. “I could never haveimagined all the things Central Louisiana residentshave done to assist evacuees. It simply amazesand humbles me.”

One of the single, largest donations to theUnited Way’s response fund came from TheRapides Foundation in the form of an

unprecedented contribution. The RapidesFoundation’s Board of Trustees suspended itsgrantmaking policy to donate $1 million to theUnited Way’s response fund. Beyond theFoundation’s donation, the fund has received anadditional $180,000 in donations. All moneydonated to the United Way’s fund stays here inCentral Louisiana to assist organizations thatresponded to evacuees.

Initially, Britt believed the Gulf Coast area haddodged the bullet and that things weren’t as badas feared. However, when he awoke the Tuesdaymorning after the storm hit on Monday, August29, he found things to be worse. “Tuesday, about10:00 a.m., it hit me that this was going to havea huge impact on the Central Louisiana area,” hesaid. “We were all scrambling to figure out whatto do.”

Wednesday morning following the storm, theUnited Way’s Board happened to have a regularly-scheduled meeting. On his way to the meeting,

5

Central Louisiana Katrina/Rita Response Fund




WUnited Effort

United Way of Central Louisiana

The damage from HurricaneKatrina was catastrophic in

southeastern Louisiana andsouthern Mississippi.

6



(continued)

Britt met Joe Rosier, President and CEO of TheRapides Foundation in the elevator and theybegan discussing the impact the storm was goingto have on this area.

Rosier had already discussed going to workon a special fund with the Foundation Board. Heand Britt continued this conversation with regardto the need to do something immediately torespond. “It made sense to me,” Britt said, “to setup a special fund for people to contribute – onethat they knew was targeted for the victims andthat all funds would stay in Central Louisiana.”

As with The Rapides Foundation, getting thisinvolved in disaster response is not typically howthe United Way operates. Britt explained theUnited Way does not set up disaster mechanismsbecause that is normally the function of the RedCross and the Salvation Army; the United Way ofCentral Louisiana is the largest single local funderof each organization. Part of the reason the UnitedWay funds these organizations is so they canrespond to crisis and disaster, therefore, the UnitedWay is not normally compelled to jump in andreinvent the wheel.

“This disaster was so huge, however,” Brittsaid, “that it was qualitatively different. Funds given


to the Red Cross and the Salvation Army go to acentralized location and that’s fine; but we (CenlaUnited Way) knew there would be a lot of localdemands that would be outside the Red Crossand the Salvation Army’s means and someonewould need to quickly respond.”

That is exactly what Rosier and Britt discussedin the elevator that morning. Rosier expressedthe Foundation’s desire to respond, but notbecome the mechanism that monitored funding.Britt said the discussion quickly led to therealization that setting up a response fund wouldbe mutually beneficial.

After the United Way’s board meetingWednesday, the executive committee wasempowered to study the situation and takenecessary steps. Britt said the next morning; thefund was opened and announced. The RapidesFoundation assisted in announcing the fund andgetting the word out to those who wished todonate and also to organizations that they couldapply for assistance.

“Funds just started rolling in,” Britt said. “Over $100,000 above and beyond The RapidesFoundation’s $1 million donation was sent inwithout even trying. People wanted to help.”

Overseeing the dissemination of funds is apanel of community leaders comprised of someof Central Louisiana’s brightest businessmen andwomen. “These are intelligent folks who know

United Effort

“I worry that I willnever say ‘thankyou’ enough to allthe people whohave helpedevacuees getback on their feetafter such a large-scale disaster.”David Britt, President and CEOof the United Way ofCentral Louisiana

A completly submerged car lies inthe flooded waters of New Orleansin the aftermath of HurricaneKatrina. Water marks show thewater reached over five feet.

7




(continued)

the value of a dollar, but are also compassionateand can respond to needs. They have commonsense mixed with compassion and a concern foraccountability,” Britt said.

One of those bright and compassionatecommunity leaders on the panel is The RapidesFoundation’s Vice President of Programs, AllenSmart. Smart believes the United Way of CentralLouisiana did a fantastic job of putting togetherprocedures and protocols for the fund’s grantingprocess. Assembling an application form and theallocation panel so quickly helped the fundsbegin to trickle into the community that muchfaster.

“We’ve been meeting sometimes twice aweek and one thing that we, as a Foundation,impressed upon the United Way was that wewanted low bureaucracy as well as quick turn-around because we wanted to make these fundsavailable in a really efficient way,” Smart said. “Weknew that churches, community groups andother organizations were putting out money thatthey didn’t really have. They needed the dollarsreplenished immediately – they don’t have deeppockets.”

Smart and Britt explained that the panelfocuses not so much on the future, but hasresponded so far on a reimbursement basis toagencies and organizations that have put moneyout-of-pocket to provide for immediate needsof evacuees such as shelter, food, transportation,clothing and more. The fund is targeted mainlyat supporting churches, nonprofit groups and insome cases a town or village or any organizedgroup that put money out-of-pocket to supportevacuees when they really had no resources, orlimited resources, to do so.

Being a part of a panel that disseminatedfunds rapidly is a form of business that is definitelydifferent for Smart, who usually focuses on long-term results at the Foundation. “This is very, verydifferent for me,” Smart said, “but extremelyrewarding. On the panel, we deal with immediatedecisions compared to the weeks and months

of analysis, assessments and thinking ‘big picture’that we do at the Foundation. Although it isdifferent, it is certainly the appropriate response.”

As proud as Britt is of the community andThe Rapides Foundation for their generouscontributions to the Katrina/Rita Response Fundis Smart of the United Way of Central Louisiana.“The Foundation really applauds the United Wayas a tremendous partner,” Smart said. “We thinkthey have helped to play a unique role for thecommunity in providing leadership on theKatrina/Rita relief efforts. There was no otheragency that could have or would have done thisand done such a fantastic job.”

Smart points out that the United Way is nota direct service agency, but that they quicklybecame one and he, along with the entireFoundation, was very happy to see them step upand involve themselves in a really positive way.

Thus far, approximately $651,000 has beendisseminated from the response fund to variousCentral Louisiana organizations. (See list onpage 9)

“Early on, we were reimbursing churchesbasically just trying to help them stay open and


Allen Smart, Vice President of Programs,The Rapides Foundation

“ The Foundation really applauds

the United Way as a tremendous

partner. We think they have helped

to play a unique role for the

community in providing

leadership on the Katrina/Rita

relief efforts.”

8




keep treating evacuees,” Britt said. “There wasn’tmuch in the way of invoices, initially, but thatquickly changed as bills came in and churcheswere able to provide paperwork. I am very proudof the way the two organizations and the panelsaw the need to respond quickly but carefully.We all knew this situation was different and wehad to respond immediately because there werepeople literally arriving in town with the clothesthey had on their backs. Because they swam outof the storm, their clothes were dirty and toxic.We couldn’t have waited weeks or months torespond.”

Britt said that although the communityresponded with generosity to the fund, manyneeds would have gone unmet had it not beenfor The Rapides Foundation’s donation. The mainthing Britt believes the Foundation’s donationmade possible was to get resources to peoplequickly and support those on the frontline whowere working with evacuees directly every day.He further believes the fund has encouragedorganizations to continue assisting evacueesbecause they know there is a good chance ofrecouping some of the funds.

“I think that without the money from TheRapides Foundation, there would be an awful lotof churches sitting in the dark right now becausetheir utility bills were huge,” Britt said. “We’vealready put out more than half-a-million dollarsto various organizations and without theFoundation’s donation; we never would have hadthe funds to help all these people. It was such agenerous gift and it created a lot of hope.”

Helping these small or large churches andorganizations that have helped those in need issomething both Britt and Smart agree isextremely rewarding and they are glad to havebeen able to play a part in something muchbigger than themselves.

“I have been constantly impressed with thelevel of commitment of the church communitiesand the smallest congregations who maybedidn’t have the financial ability to help, but whoopened their doors anyway and cooked forevacuees, built showers for them, and were there24 hours-a-day to help these folks,” Smart said.“This once-in-a-millennium crisis just clicked withthem and they were called to help and they did.I never would have thought this could be true.It is amazing and very impressive.”

Britt acknowledges that there will be manyheartfelt, touching and emotional stories that thepublic may never know about and all the effortsto help evacuees, but he knows that he willforever feel blessed to have had the chance tobe a part of this humanitarian effort that cuts tothe core of what organizations like the UnitedWay and The Rapides Foundation stand for –helping people.

David Britt, President and CEO of the United Wayof Central Louisiana

“ We all knew this situation was

different and we had to respond

quickly because there were

people literally arriving in town

with the clothes they had on their

backs. Because they swam out of

the storm, their clothes were dirty

and toxic. We couldn’t have waited

weeks or months to respond.”

United Effort

Donations as of February 2, 2006: Amount Awarded: Parish:



The background satellite view shows the immense size and intensity of Hurricane Katrina only hours before making landfall.

United Way’s Katrina/Rita Response Fund

Bread of Life Christian Church 5,500 AllenChrist Praise and Worship Center 1,350 AllenFirst Baptist Church 7,500 AllenFirst United Pentecostal Church 2,500 AllenMount Hope Baptist Church 4,000 AllenSolid Rock Church of God 500 AllenSouth Central Allen Community Food Pantry 2,182 AllenSt. Peter Baptist Church 1,300 AllenTrinity Baptist Church 7,000 AllenAvoyelles Resurrection Ministries 2,200 AvoyellesNew Life Assembly of God 4,593 AvoyellesPrayer Power 1,000 AvoyellesSilent Love Ministries 1,500 AvoyellesSt. Anthony Catholic Church 500 AvoyellesSt. Anthony of Padua 250 AvoyellesGrace Baptist Church 1,053 CatahoulaChrist Way Church 1,500 GrantJena Kiwanis Club 10,000 LaSalleNolley Memorial 1,000 LaSalleStandard Baptist Church 3,120 LaSalleTown of Olla 1,500 LaSalleTown of Olla Volunteer Fire Dept. 1,042 LaSalleVolunteers of America 7,500 LaSalleApostolic Center 1,250 NatchitochesAftercare Ministries 20,950 RapidesAlexandria Metropolitan Foundation 53,220 RapidesAmerican Red Cross 115,400 RapidesBoys and Girls Club 6,000 RapidesCenla Area Agency on Aging 350 RapidesChristian Love Shelter 5,000 RapidesChristian Worship Center 19,278 RapidesComforter Baptist Church 500 RapidesCommunity Healthworx 3,175 RapidesEmmanuel Baptist Church 5,500 RapidesFamily Counseling Agency 27,656 RapidesFirst Baptist Church of Lecompte 1,500 RapidesFirst St. Mark Baptist Church 1,000 RapidesFirst Union Baptist Church 1,000 RapidesGreater St. Lawrence Baptist Church 500 RapidesHorseshoe Baptist Church 4,771 RapidesLive Oak Community Church 2,000 RapidesLouisiana District Assemblies of God 16,247 RapidesLouisiana District of the United Pentecostal Church 17,096 RapidesMy Fathers House 1,200 RapidesNew Bethel Missionary Baptist Church 500 RapidesNew Scott Olly Baptist Church 5,750 RapidesParkview Baptist Church 3,092 RapidesRapides Minority Community Development 15,000 RapidesRapides Parish Library 3,220 RapidesSacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church 2,000 RapidesSalvation Army 41,500 RapidesSickle Cell Anemia Foundation 250 RapidesSt. Francis & Anne Catholic Church 400 RapidesSt. Francis Xavier Cathedral 2,000 RapidesSt. Martin Catholic Church 1,350 RapidesSt. Mary's Residential Training School 10,000 RapidesSt. Michael's Episcopal Church 2,000 RapidesThe Extra Mile 11,574 RapidesThe Orchard Foundation 19,500 RapidesThe Shepherd Center 103,718 RapidesTrue Vine Missionary Baptist Church 4,200 RapidesUnited Seek & Save Foundation 1,200 RapidesUnited Way of Central Louisiana 8,371 RapidesVolunteers Of America 1,000 RapidesWesley Ministries 2,500 RapidesWoodmen of the World 10,700 RapidesYMCA 10,940 RapidesYWCA 3,322 RapidesEast Leesville Baptist Church 9,000 VernonFirst Baptist Church of Leesville 2,000 VernonLouisiana Lions Camp 2,250 VernonVernon Community Action Council 1,500 Vernon

Totals: $651,020

(continued)

10

First Baptist Church - Oakdale


As a minister for 19 years, Stephen Laughlin feels what he experienced helping evacuees in themidst of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation compares to none in all his years in the ministry.

“On a pure ministry level,” Laughlin, pastor of First Baptist Church in Oakdale, said, “In all my yearsas a pastor, I cannot think of anything that is more of a Christ-based ministry than what we did forour evacuees.”

Stephen Laughlin (left), Pastor of First Baptist Church inOakdale looks over food supplies with Hurricane Katrinaevacuee Brian Etienne, Sr.Oakdale

Home away from home

11




Laughlin and his congregation housed andcared for as many as 76 evacuees from BelleChasse and St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishesfor a period of approximately six to eight weeksfollowing the storm. He said they started arrivingat the church the Tuesday after the storm hit onMonday, August 29.

Last year, during the fallout from HurricaneIvan, Laughlin’s church housed approximately40 people for two nights. He and members ofthe congregation fed and took care of themalthough they “really had no idea what they weredoing.”

This time around, however, Laughlin believesthey were much better prepared and equippedto handle evacuees. He said they began toprepare as soon as they believed the storm wasactually going to take place and it was going to

be serious. “We began making plans to house asmany as we could. We were ready for them.”

Although ready, Laughlin said the churchwas still on its own in the beginning. Becausethe church was not an official Red Cross orSalvation Army shelter, they weren’t receivingmuch assistance until the United Way steppedin and saved the day in a big way.

“It has helped us purchase food, with staffingof overtime, and pay for utilities above andbeyond our normal use,” he said. “The buildingwhere evacuees were staying is one in whichwe usually only turn the air-conditioner on twodays a week – Sundays and Wednesdays – whilethe evacuees were here it ran 24 hours-a-dayfor nearly six weeks straight. This made it alittle more expensive but the grant helpedtremendously.”

(continued)


Out of a disaster have come ties that bind for this churchin Oakdale, its members and the evacuees they housed.

Huricane Katrinaevacuees fromPointe a la Hache,LA (left-right)Tori Etienne,Lynette Roberson,and PauletteMoliere sharecooking duties atFirst BaptistChurch inOakdale.

12


Each family staying at the church had theirown space in a Sunday school room with privacy.An outhouse and shower building were set upoutside with a propane heater, electricity andwater for showers and such.

Laughlin said all 76 of the evacuees whostayed at the church were related and actuallytraveled together to flee the storm. They showedup at the Oakdale church and knew it was theplace for them. “They felt deeply blessed to behere and I assure you, we were blessed as welljust by being able to get to know them,” he said.

Brian Etienne, one of the evacuees whostayed at the church, believes the experience heand his family had there was a unique one. “Afterstopping at a couple of hotels, we discoveredthat there was nowhere for us to go,” Etiennesaid, “and we then found out about the churchin Oakdale. We have been so very blessed, believeme. We lost everything in the storm, but we feelwe haven’t lost anything because of the waythey took care of us here.”

Laughlin said theseevacuees are hard-working, homeownerswith full-time jobs – good,solid people who neededa little help in the way ofshelter. Although manymembers of the churchhelped prepare food forthem and cared for themin many ways, Laughlinsaid for the most part, theevacuees took care ofthemselves, cleaned upafter themselves, cleanedthe kitchen, bathroomfacilities, and more. Theywanted to take care ofthemselves, he pointedout.



When it came time to assist with evacueesfrom Hurricane Rita, Laughlin called his formerchurch in Minden to see if they could house hischurch’s Katrina evacuees. So, the 76 packed upand made their way to Minden in order for theOakdale church to assist even more peopleduring the night of the storm. As soon as it wassafe, the Katrina group headed “back home” toOakdale.

Even after the evacuees left, some have comeback to the church to visit. “We were so glad tosee them,” Laughlin said. “They stayed in theirold Sunday school room.”

Out of disaster have come ties that bind forthis church in Oakdale, its members and theevacuees they housed. Not only did they givethem shelter and food, they took a large groupof them to the high school football game onFriday evenings no matter whether local or outof town.

“Our children have gotten to be good friendswith theirs; they go toschool together now,”Laughlin said. “These folkslive in Oakdale. We knowthese people on a first-name basis; they’re ourfriends and we arecommitted to them. Aslong as they need us, wewill be here.” Etienne agrees thebond that has formed isindeed a special one. “If weever had to do this all overagain – which hopefullywe won’t – thesewonderful people wouldbe the first ones I’d call,”he said. “We won’t forgetthese people, ever. Theywill always be in ourprayers.”

Brian Etienne, one of the evacuees who stayedat the Oakdale First Baptist Church

“ There was nowhere for us

to go . . . we have been so

very blessed, believe me.

We lost everything in the

storm, but we feel we

haven’t lost anything

because of the way they

took care of us here.”

East Leesville Baptist Church




t East Leesville Baptist Church, Office Manager and Shelter Coordinator Mary Johnson hascatered to the needs of church members and those in need for 21 years. As an official RedCross shelter, Johnson has seen storms – and evacuees – come and go over the years. But

she has never seen, or been a part of, anything like the fallout from Hurricane Katrina.“What this experience has done is bring me to a different level of ministry,” Johnson said.

“I have worked with many people over the years, but this disaster really made me think ofJesus and how he ministered to people.”

She points out some of the evacuees were the poorest of people and some of them were notas poor, but they were all in the same boat – they’d lost their homes and what they could pack intheir vehicles was all they had.

Fifty-three year-old Gaynell Stafford of New Orleans packed up her vehicle, a few belongings andher family and feels the shelter was a lifesaver for them. As they evacuated the night before Katrinahit, they had no idea where they were headed. When they got to Leesville they saw a Red Cross truckin front of the church and decided to stop. (continued on page 14)

A

Bonding Ministry

East Leesville Baptist Church evacuees (left-right) Marvin Gordon, Stepfone Powell and Michael Meyer

14


“We pulled in and it was the best move wecould have ever made,” Stafford said. “It was atrue blessing to be there and Ms. Mary is anangel. There wasn’t a problem we brought toher that she didn’t help us solve. If it hadn’t beenfor her and this church, Lord have mercy, wewould have been living on the street like a bunchof animals.”

Johnson said she got to know many of the150 evacuees personally and that real ministrybegins when you help total strangers such as



these, in need of food, water and shelter.“I felt every bit of what these people were

feeling,” she said. “There was a lot of hurt and alot of pain and I discussed this with them.I formed friendships with them, I cried with them… we bonded. I hope God lets this experiencestay with me for a long, long time.”

Johnson said the church was ready to houseKatrina evacuees by September 5 and beganreceiving them on September 6. When Rita hit,they were maxed out, but she refused to allow

“I felt every bit of what these people were feeling. There was a lotof hurt and a lot of pain and I discussed this with them. I formed

friendships with them, I cried with them … we bonded. I hope God letsthis experience stay with me for a long, long time.”

Mary Johnson, Office Manager and Shelter Coordinator, East Leesville Baptist Church

New Orleans resident Emelda Kenney was reunited with her daughter at the shelter and neither are planning onreturning to the city.

(continued)



High School Reform InitiativeEast Leesville Baptist Church

anyone to sleep in their vehicles outside andturned no one away.

After Katrina, evacuees came to the churchfrom many communities in the New Orleansarea; the Ninth Ward, West Bank, East Bank andSlidell. They came to the church in family unitsof 15, 20 or more, together in one group. Johnsonsaid the church provided cots, bedding andeverything the families needed, but was shockedwhen all family members wanted their cots nextto one another.

“They slept in families,” she said. “I guessbecause of what they’d been through, they didn’twant to be apart from anyone in their family forany length of time. They stayed in very, very tightfamily units the entire time they were here. Theyall became very close with everyone else in theshelter, as well.”

As soon as members of the communitydiscovered how many evacuees were at thechurch, food began pouring in and manyvolunteers stepped forward to help. But therewere still many things the church needed toproperly care for so many people.

“When the grant money from the UnitedWay came in, it really helped with a lot of things.Even though we had canned goods and papergoods, we needed necessities like eggs, cheese,lunchmeat and our electric bill was huge. It’samazing how help arrives when you need itmost.”

Thanks to the United Way’s Central LouisianaKatrina/Rita Response Fund, the Leesville churchreceived a $9,000 grant to assist in taking care ofevacuees. Johnson said the money came in notime, within one week, and although thecommunity helped out a lot, the grant moneywas a Godsend because “when you feed thismany people and have toiletry needs, it gets very,very expensive.”

Johnson said during the first week she andother members of the church were there nearly24 hours-a-day providing assistance or cookingbreakfast as early as 4:30 every morning. By thesecond week, they began getting worn out andwere pleased to discover many of the women inthe group wanted to cook, clean and do thingsnot only for themselves, but to help out andprovide church members some relief.

New Orleans resident Krystal Powellremembers the time a Red Cross worker cameto inspect the shelter. Powell explains that theshelter was in immaculate condition and theworker was amazed.

“He told us this was the cleanest shelter he’dbeen to in awhile,” Krystal said. “He was impressedwe kept the shelter nice and surprised to discoverthat it was all of us (evacuees) who were cleaning.At first, church members did the cooking andcleaning, but we knew they would get tired andso we pulled together and kept the place up.”


(continued)

New Orleans resident Krystal Powell teamed with fellowevacuees to take over cooking and cleaning duties at theEast Leesville Baptist Church shelter.

New Orleans resident Patricia Ann Powell said, ”All thingsI lost are just material; but you cannot replace lives - mineor my loved ones. I am truly blessed.“

16


East Leesville Baptist Church(continued from page 15)

Patricia Ann Powell, Krystal’s mother, feelsliving in a shelter was difficult at first, but havingher family around helped.

“At first, living in the shelter was hard and anexperience I never thought I’d go through,”Patricia said. “But everyone was so kind andhelpful. I look at this in two ways: I lost somethings, but I gained a lot. I was blessed to bethere. I have my strength and my health and canstart over again. All things I lost are just material;but you cannot replace lives – mine or my lovedones. I am truly blessed.”

Many of the evacuees who stayed in thechurch weren’t planning on going back to NewOrleans to live, but were going to settle inLeesville.

“We have been back to see what it is likedown there,” Patricia said, “it looks like a war zone.No, no, no way are we going back.”

Emelda Kenney, who didn’t immediatelyevacuate New Orleans, and her daughterConstance Gordon were reunited at the shelterafter being separated for two weeks. Neither isplanning to return to New Orleans.

“I am going to be wherever my daughterand son-in-law are,” Kenney said. “I am not goingto be hard-headed; next time I will listen. I mademy decision when I was trying to get out ofthere that I wasn’t going back; I just didn’t knowwhere my new life would start. But whereverthey’re at, that’s where I’ll be. They’re all I have.”

Johnson said evacuees stayed in the churchthrough October 28 and that she is now goingto take some time to write about the experiencein a journal. “These people will be my friendsforever and I am going to write all of this downso when I am old, I can read it again andremember the experience.”

New Orleans resident Constance Gordon was reunited with her mother at East Leesville Baptist Church after beingseparated for two weeks following Hurricane Katrina.

annease Seastrunk watched in horror fromher hospital bed in Baton Rouge as evacueebabies from New Orleans were brought tothe hospital where she was a patient.

Seastrunk, executive director of The ShepherdCenter in Alexandria, had just given birth to herson. He arrived early and was receiving specialcare at the hospital in the days leading up to andfollowing Hurricane Katrina.

“I watched everything unfold and saw allthese babies being brought into the hospitalwithout their mothers,” Seastrunk said. “It was justawful. Traveling back to Alexandria, this weighedheavily on my mind and I knew that we, at TheShepherd Center, were going to have to dosomething to help all these evacuees. I knewwe’d have many in our area and they would mostdefinitely need our help.”

Seastrunk was right. As thousands of evacueesflocked to the Central Louisiana area before,during and after Hurricane Katrina, they neededfood, shelter and clothing. The Shepherd Centertended to the lost or displaced evacuees anddespite all odds, kept efforts rolling even whenthere was no money to do so.

The Shepherd Center was created in 1983and has, for the past 23 years, provided emergencyassistance to anyone in need. Seastrunk beganpreparing to meet the needs of evacuees in theCenla area even before she left the hospital inBaton Rouge.

She explained that the shelter’s supplies arerelatively short at the end of the year. Her thoughtswere on how the center would meet the needsof all the evacuees and make ends meet whenshe heard of The Rapides Foundation’s donation



High School Reform InitiativeThe Shepherd Center

J


The Shepherd CenterAgainst All Odds

So many families lost everything due to the hurricanes.

100 ft. from the 17th Street canal breach in New Orleans, water was still leaking through the levee, 3 months after Hurricane Katrina.

18


The Shepherd Center


to the United Way’s Central Louisiana Katrina/RitaResponse Fund on the radio driving home. Hearingthat, she breathed a sigh of relief and knewinstantly that the center would be able to keeprelief efforts going.

“I knew early on that we would respond, andrun out of supplies and personal items withinthe first few days after we started to assistevacuees,” she said. “We had faith we’d find moneysomehow, so we bought what we needed andkept going. We applied for, and received fundsfrom the United Way – we were able to continueassisting evacuees. What a blessing these fundswere.”

Taking in 200 calls per day under normalconditions, the center began to receive between600-800 calls each dayand seeingapproximately 400-500people daily after thedisaster. Seastrunk saidit was overwhelmingand she worried thatthe center might notbe able to help themall.

“People were linedup for hours outsideour building and it wasreally amazing becausethey were calm andrelaxed in the midst oflosing all they’downed,” she said. “It wasan incredibleexperience for those ofus at the shelterbecause we werealways worried if we’dtruly be able to meettheir needs. But theywere just so graciousand thankful forwhatever theyreceived.”

Seastrunk said she and her employees at thecenter heard many of the evacuees’ stories andexperiences that have forever changed their lives,and being able to meet the evacuees’ needsproved that the center had lived up to its name. “We didn’t see any of the evacuees giving up,they just kept going,” she said, “and they weren’tgoing to let this get the best of them. It alsobrought out the best in our staff and ourvolunteers.”

Speaking of volunteers, Seastrunk is verythankful and appreciative to all who volunteeredtheir precious time to come down to the centerand help out. With so many people in need andsuch an influx of requests, the center couldn’thave made it through without their help.

Volunteers andvolunteer donations arethe mainstay of thecenter. It is primarilyfunded by 69 localchurches that donatetheir ministry funds tothe center, two largeannual fund-raisers andby the Friends of theShepherd Center, whichis comprised ofcommunity memberswho donate funds tohelp the centeraccomplish its mission.

It still wasn’t enoughto sustain theoverwhelming needthis time around.Seastrunk said thecenter has receivedthree grants from theUnited Way’s responsefund that were used tohelp over 2,000evacuees. Initially, sheexplained, the first grantof $6,000 helped

(continued)

Against All Odds

“I honestly don’t know what we would

have done without the funds from the

United Way and The Rapides

Foundation . . . I know the community

would have helped, but this money

was such a huge relief, especially

because we didn’t have to jump

through a lot of hoops to get it. This

has been one of the easiest funding

experiences I have ever had and in

a time of crisis, what a relief to ask

for what we needed and to have

gotten it. It was a wonderful

experience. One I’ll never forget.”

Jannease Seastrunk,Executive Director, The Shepherd Center



High School Reform InitiativeThe Shepherd Center

232 households with gas vouchers andtransportation needs. That money was gone in amatter of five to seven days.

“Then Rita hit and we had another influx ofpeople needing food and we’d run out the verynext day after the storm,” she said. “We had to gobuy more to help and we applied and receivedanother $10,000 just for food. We went throughthat quickly, also.”

As the shelter began to fall behind wereceived the third grant of $53,000. All in all, thegrants helped with temporary hires to handlethe paperwork overload, food, hygiene items,providing transportation in the way of gasoline

or airline tickets/bus tickets for those who foundjobs elsewhere and for utility deposits forevacuees who found housing.

“I honestly don’t know what we would havedone without the funds from the United Wayand The Rapides Foundation,” she said. “I knowthe community would have helped, but thismoney was such a huge relief, especially becausewe didn’t have to jump through a lot of hoopsto get it. This has been one of the easiest fundingexperiences I have ever had and in a time of crisis,what a relief to ask for what we needed and tohave gotten it. It was a wonderful experience.One I’ll never forget.”

Seastrunk remembers the exact moment sheheard about The Rapides Foundation’s donationto the United Way and thought to herself howproud she is to be a part of a community thathas such “quality people in it that would do sucha thing to help their neighbors.”

As an executive director, Seastrunk feels thisexperience has also been personally rewardingin several additional ways. First, it reiterated howstrong a team she has working for her at thecenter. She said her staff of five peopleimmediately kicked in gear and did what neededto be done to provide for the evacuees. Secondly,she said it was a morale booster for her and thestaff to see that a relatively small local organizationwas able to help more than the usual number offolks and still do a quality job.

Indeed, Seastrunk firmly believes she and herstaff have been changed forever for the betterby this disaster, as has everyone.

“I think that every person who has beentouched by this tragedy has been changed,” shesaid. “I think it has been a test for all humanityand people have come together across this greatnation who never would have come togetherbefore and helped each other in ways they neverwould have before. It has been the greatestblessing in disguise. It has brought out the bestin all of us.”

A young Hurricane Katrina survivor clings to a bottleof water as the clean up and repair continues in herneighborhood.

20


Central Louisiana Schools Impacted

Students Jazmine Dixon (left) and Tyrell Ceaser of New Orleans discuss how they have adjusted totheir new school with Northwood High School Principal Donald Welch.

eing uprooted from home having lostmost all of their belongings, not beingable to see old friends and being placed

into new schools has been a daunting situationfor many of the children who are victims ofHurricane Katrina.

“This whole experience has affected me a lot,”13-year-old Tyrell Ceaser, of St. Bernard Parish,said. “I liked where I used to live; I don’t knowwhere some of the people in my oldneighborhood are and I miss my friends.”

Tyrell’s family, like so many others, losteverything in the storm – their home, theirclothing, their old lives. And like Tyrell’s family,many of them have settled, at least for the schoolyear, here in Central Louisiana. Thousands ofchildren began attending area schools shortlyafter their arrival and are transitioning into a newlife.

For Tyrell, who attends Northwood HighSchool in rural Rapides Parish, the experience ofattending a new school has been a good one,although he readily admits he gets very sad whenhe thinks about home and his old school.

“It has helped me to be here, though, becauseI have gotten to know a lot of people and madenew friends, good friends,” he said. “They’ve helpedme out a lot. They have taught me things aboutbasketball I didn’t know and I get to playbasketball here more than I did at home. They’veeven helped me with math and my othersubjects. I make a lot more As and Bs now.”

When Tyrell’s family evacuated, they onlybrought clothes for a few days, expecting to beable to return home after the storm passed. Tyrellsaid he was lucky to have had even that becauseso many had nothing.

Getting situated into a new school was madea bit easier thanks to The Rapides Foundation,which earmarked up to $500,000 for the nineparishes in Central Louisiana to utilize for uniforms,school supplies and such.

Seventeen-year-old Justin Francois, a NewOrleans native who lived in the lower Ninth Ward,believes receiving assistance from the schoolhelped him and his family a lot.

“When I got to the school, they treated mevery nicely,” Justin said. “They gave all of us(evacuees) clothes, uniforms, whatever weneeded. It was a big relief because we didn’t havea lot of money to start all over. It made me feelreally good. I didn’t know there were so manynice people in the world.”

Like Tyrell, Justin misses home, but admitshaving a chance to start over was a bit exciting.He plays football and basketball for NorthwoodHigh School and compared to the Ninth Ward,said his life is a little easier now because he “doesn’thave to worry about anything, like safety, butgoing to school.”

Northwood High School Principal DonaldWelch said that at one time, they had 109 evacueestudents at the school, but that they are downto about 45, and considers the school lucky to

B





Central Louisiana SchoolsImpacted By Hurricanes

Learning Experience

have been able to help the children get back ontheir feet educationally and otherwise.

“We are very appreciative of all the fundswe’ve received from The Rapides Foundation andall of the help the community has providedthrough the United Way and other organizations,”Welch said. “I have been delighted to see all theseagencies working together so well to take careof these people.”

When it came to taking care of the children,Welch said any issues that came up, he and hisstaff worked diligently to address them throughguidance counselors and their social worker.Additionally, he was moved by the generosity ofhis students and faculty.

“I have been very impressed with the way ourstudents and faculty have adapted to the newstudents,” he said. “They have mixed well with

22



(continued from page 21)Learning ExperienceThird grade student Tiatia Davis works on a computer assignment with Jena Elementary Principal Deborah Mayo.

(continued)

them and gone out of their way to help them.I know it has been hard on these evacuees, butthey have done well. I am also proud of them.”

Northwood seventh-grader Myesha Gray, ofBoyce, feels the experience of helping theevacuees has been a good one, and one that shewill “never forget.”

“I gave them clothes, food, shoes, hairaccessories for the girls and whatever I could givethem,” Myesha said. “My parents gave me moneyto help me do whatever I could for the kids. Iliked having them here, they’re very nice andanything we could do for them, they wouldaccept and were grateful. It has taught me to bevery thankful for everything I’ve got because itcould have been us, not them, in that situation.”

Myesha said many of the children were quiteupset and nervous when they arrived at theschool, but that she and fellow students talkedto them about what had happened and it helpedthem move forward.

Like Northwood High School, Jena Elementaryin LaSalle Parish also had an influx of evacueesinto the school and has approximately 55students still attending. Jena Elementary PrincipalDeborah Mayo said her first reaction to theincrease in students at the school was to takecare of their needs and at the same time, takecare of the students who regularly attended JenaElementary.

“Chief among our concerns was taking careof the evacuee students’ emotional needs,” shesaid. “It is easier to take care of supplies andclothing, but we wanted to make sure they wereokay and would adjust well to their newsurroundings. We have a very student-orientedclimate here and the children were made to feelwelcome. We have gone out of our way to makesure they are not only safe, but are happy and ina productive environment. I believe they haveacclimated well and now feel very safe here.”

Initially getting students situated for theclassroom meant getting them uniforms,

classroom supplies and much more. As withNorthwood, Jena Elementary was also able toutilize funds from The Rapides Foundation toaccomplish this goal.

Mayo believes money from the Foundationdid for them “what no other emergency fundswould have been able to do. This funding allowedus to purchase desks, because we had a shortageof desks, and purchase other items thatcommunity and emergency funds could not beused for,” Mayo said.

She is quick to point out that not only didshe and the faculty help the evacuees, but so didthe students at Jena Elementary and she is veryproud of them. Mayo believes the experiencehas been a great learning one for the childrenbecause it taught them to be empathetic forothers and it has allowed them to “get out oftextbook learning and into real-life learning tohelp others and reach out to those in need.”

Third-grader Tiatia Davis of Marrero, said sheand her brother T.J. were both a bit nervous goinginto a new school at first, but that it has helpedto be in the same school.

“People have been very nice to both of ushere,” Tiatia said. “I have made some very goodfriends at school. When I first came here, I didn’tknow there was a canteen and my friend Heathergave me some money to get something and alot of the other girls have helped me out a lot,too. It has been very different at this schoolbecause in New Orleans, we might not get whatwe want or need; but here the teachers payattention to us and make sure we have everythingwe need.”

As with many evacuees, the Ceaser, Francoisand Davis families are not going back to NewOrleans – they are all staying in Central Louisiana.

“My whole family is here, my aunts, mycousins,” Tyrell said. “We are staying, too, becausejust knowing that there are so many nice peoplehere that we’ve never met before who care andare willing to help – this gives us a lot of hope.”




(continued)

24

is published by The Rapides Foundation

The Rapides Foundation continuesa legacy of community healthcare

initiated in 1903.

President/CEO:Joseph R. Rosier, Jr., CPA, CFA

Editors:Vicki Bernard

Annette Beuchler, MBA, CHE

Contributing Writers:Dusty Schenofsky Koschny

Anne L’Heureux

For additional copies or to be addedto the mailing list contact:

The Rapides Foundation1101 Fourth Street, Suite 300

Alexandria, LA 71301

Tel: 318-443-3394Fax: 318-443-8312

Toll Free: 1-800-994-3394

Internet: www.rapidesfoundation.orge-mail: [email protected]

&&Health Well-BeingPRESORTEDSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDALEXANDRIA, LAPERMIT NO. 20


Katrina/Rita Student Enrollment

DISTRICT TOTAL STUDENTS FUNDS PAID

Allen 210 21,000

Avoyelles 557 55,100

Catahoula 219 15,600

Grant 217 21,700

LaSalle 152 12,100

Natchitoches 224 22,000

Rapides 2,476 247,600

Vernon 513 22,500

Winn 167 9,600

Private/Parochial 660 63,700

TOTAL 5,395 $490,900The amounts listed under Funds Paid reflect the total funding requested by each district.

Documents

FOCUS: KATRINA/RITA RESPONSE FUNDhis voice, David Britt clears his throat in an attempt to speak again about the tremendous pride he has in the Central Louisiana community for their