Bringing Hope to Hurricane Victims
Shawn Robinson
World Vision Supplies Blessing Those in Dire Need
For six traumatizing days, Shiprah Benlevi Downing and her husband Lloyd Coffey Jr. lived in New Orlean’s Superdome with little to care for their 4-month-old child. The power went out, water and toilets quit working, and violence erupted. “No one was safe,” Lloyd said. “It was every man for himself.” An airlift and a bus ride later, this young family is finding new hope in Texas, where they were greeted by World Vision volunteers. “After two days in the Superdome, we felt forsaken,” Lloyd said. “Today I know we are not. Thank you!” Hurricane Katrina’s 145-mile-per-hour blast took everything the Coffey family owned. They are just one of tens of thousands of families forced to flee their homes in the hurricane’s wake. Many survivors are in shock as they face uncertain futures without homes, jobs, or stability for their children. Some are grappling with the deaths or unknown whereabouts of loved ones.
World Vision Responds
World Vision is assisting those devastated by Hurricane Katrina by sending shipments of emergency supplies to Dallas, where these goods are being distributed throughout the Gulf Coast region. Multiple truckloads of relief items, personal care supplies, and clothing already have arrived in Dallas, and are on their way to displaced families. Emergency supplies include items such as water containers, cups, toilet paper, shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, and toys and games to help relieve stress on children. As we do in thousands of communities around the world, World Vision is partnering with local churches already on the ground to ensure relief goods reach those in greatest need. These churches are familiar with their communities and have long-term commitments to their neighbors. Meanwhile, Texas schools are working to accommodate tens of thousands of displaced children, bringing a measure of normalcy to their disrupted lives. World Vision is providing backpacks filled with school supplies for these displaced children. All of these items already are in World Vision’s U.S. warehouses, which are stocked by generous corporations with brand-new, top-quality goods. Now we are asking our church partners to assist these overwhelmed families by providing the funds to ship even more essentials to meet basic needs. World Vision also asks for your support as we plan our long-term response, which will include providing grants to churches caring for displaced families and supplying materials to reconstruct destroyed homes. World Vision’s assessment teams are on the ground to ensure our response is targeted and effective. Restoration and rebuilding will take months, even years. Donations can be made through World Vision’s American Families Assistance Fund (AFAF). Through AFAF, World Vision works in partnership with local churches to provide lasting hope for American children and families in difficult situations, including those affected by disasters like Hurricane Katrina.
How You Can Help
Please pray for hurricane victims. Please also consider making a contribution to AFAF. Every $100 given will allow us to deliver relief supplies to one family. Thank you for your generosity, which will help World Vision coordinate and strengthen the efforts of the faith-based community in the Gulf Coast area so Hurricane Katrina survivors receive a comprehensive, compassionate response to their unmet needs.
World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. Motivated by our faith in Jesus, we serve the poor as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people.
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