The South Louisiana Community Services Federation Officers and its constituents are grateful for the tremendous support received from several groups for the Hurricane Laura Aftermath Project. The Westbank United SDA Church obtained the U-Haul truck which carried supplies to be distributed in the Lake Charles area on September 8, 2020. The supplies such as food, water, and masks were donated by Westbank United, Ephesus at Covington, Ephesus at New Orleans, Berean, Faith, Caffin Avenue, Fondren, Smyrna, Emmanuel (at Hammond) SDA Churches, Norbert Doxon (Marrero SDA Church), Vera Ragland, South Louisiana Youth Federation, Clio Place Baptist Church, St. Claire Oliver (St. Mary’s Baptist Church), American Red Cross, NENA’s, Feeding Ministry of Mandeville, LA. , City of New Orleans Neighborhood Engagement, and Baptist Community Ministries.
The Hurricane Laura survivors also received gift cards from South Louisiana Federation, Ephesus SDA Church, and Glen and Sherlette Burkhalter. As a coordinated effort, they were able to serve 400 people. On September 13, 2020, the Fondren SDA Church of Houston, Texas, traveled to Lake Charles with more supplies in a 16-foot truck to provide to those affected. “A Spiritual Hats off to all of our pastors, especially Elder Durandel Ford, Community Services Director of Southwest Region Conference, and our President Calvin Watkins who were in full bloom in terms of their support and communication,” said Irene Williams, M.S.W., A.C.S. Coordinator of Southwest Region Conference.
The South Louisiana Community Services Federation Team members are:
Irene H. Williams, MSW, Coordinator
Lyn Hakeem, MSW, Assistant Coordinator
Leslie Hutchinson, BA, Assistant Coordinator
Sherlette Burkhalter, MS, Treasurer
Lucinda Keller, LPN, Advisor
Carrie Cyprian, Advisor
Elder Gwendolyn Garrison, LPN, Recording Secretary
Stephanie, RD, Reporting Secretary
Arlene Mossey, BS, Chaplain