Help Katrina Survivors

September 2, 2005

Our hearts go out to the millions of people whose lives, homes, jobs and communities have been unalterably damaged by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

We know that many of those who are stranded and in great need are poor families, some with young children, who had no car to drive to safety, no credit card to secure a motel room, no extra cash to store up food and bottled water - and now, and only desperate hope for a way out. See below for a way that you can help battered women in Louisiana who are in tremendous need right now - your gift to the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence will go into a special fund for direct assistance to survivors.

Our thoughts are with the many women, children, and families who still await rescue, food and shelter, those who have lost friends or family members, and those whose homes and life's work have been swept away - all of their lives will be indelibly changed.

NOW Calls on Bush Administration: This Is Not the Time to Leave the Poor Behind!
For the tens of thousands of Louisiana and Mississippi residents who were already living in below the poverty line, the blow of the hurricane has hit especially hard. In many cases, they are the ones who have perished or who clung to the roofs of their lowland homes. It is these residents that the President and relief agencies must make a concerted effort to reach and help.

As we know, and as the U.S. Census data released just this week shows, both Louisiana and Mississippi remain among the states with the highest rates of poverty in the country. We also know that over the past years, President Bush has consistently denied funds, granting only a fraction of the funds needed for hurricane protection and restructuring of New Orleans' weakening levee systems. Sadly, funds that were meant to strengthen the levee protecting New Orleans from Lake Pontchartrain were spent instead on Homeland Security and the Bush tax cut, leaving little homeland security for New Orleans. The President and Congress must immediately allocate and direct the appropriate funds and resources for disaster relief, although for some, we know it may already be too late.

YOU CAN HELP - Send donations to aid victims of domestic violence. NOW members are always the first to reach out and help our sisters and their families in times of need and in crisis. You may have already seen vast lists of charitable organizations and other relief efforts to which you can contribute. We also want you to know that you can contribute directly to smaller community based service organizations like those who provide assistance and shelter to victims of domestic violence. We ask that you consider donating to the state coalitions working to end domestic and sexual violence, as victims who need shelter are being relocated.

NOW has been trying to contact local organizations, and has reached the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which has established a Domestic Violence Victim's Hurricane Relief Fund. All donations go directly to victims of domestic violence affected by this hurricane and will not be used for any administrative or other purposes.

LCADV is accepting donations that are specifically earmarked to assist battered survivors and their children who have been directly affected/displaced by the hurricane. The donations will be used to assist battered victims from the following parishes in Louisiana: Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines.

The donations will be used for the following purposes:
1. Relocation of domestic violence victims;
2. Purchasing of basic needs, i.e. baby formula, diapers, food, clothing, etc.;
3. Security Deposits on housing and utilities;
4. Car repair, gas, public transportation;
5. Medical/prescription needs;
6. Other basic, life sustaining needs.

If you would like to make a donation using MasterCard or Visa, you may contact the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence office at 225-752-1296 with your credit card information. The phone lines are sometimes down, so please be persistent.

Donations may also be electronically deposited into the NCADV account by faxing a voided check with the amount of the donation to (225)751-8927. LCADV will setup an electronic deposit and you will receive confirmation of your donation with the tax-deductible receipt.

LCADV is a private 501c3, not-for-profit organization incorporated in 1982 and is collecting donations to assist victims of domestic violence and child victimization who are displaced and affected by Hurricane Katrina.

LCADV is a network of 20 domestic violence programs/shelters throughout the state. Four of our shelters and two nonresidential programs are completely closed at the time and two or three may be completely destroyed. Sad to say, domestic violence and child victimization are social problems that do not stop during this natural disaster we are experiencing and with cessation of all direct services in the gulf coast region, the increased need for relocation and basic monetary assistance is essential for these women and children.

The Louisiana Domestic Violence Hurricane Relief Fund Account is set up with AmSouth Bank which is located in the following states: Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. If you live in one of these states you could make a donation at the local AmSouth Bank Branch to the LCADV Domestic Violence Hurricane Relief Fund: Account number: 0020085338. Donations from other states can be made through wire transfer to this account.

Hurricane Katrina also swept through Mississippi, but we have been unable to contact the Mississippi Coalition. We will alert you if there is a similar fund set up to help Mississippi victims of violence during this period of disaster.

Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
P.O. Box 77308
Baton Rouge, LA 70879