Persons w/Disabilities Flood Relief
Donation protected
We are a 501c3 non-profit social service company in Baton Rouge, LA which serves children and adults with developmental disabilities in their homes. (Gulf Coast Social Services - www.gcssla.org). After the massive, historic flood here on August 13-15, 2016, we have untold numbers of disabled children and adults and their caregivers who have been severely impacted by the flood. We are now estimating that 50% of the people we serve or their caregivers have either lost everything they own, are unable to return to their homes due to the home being unlivable, and/or they have lost their transportation due to automobiles getting trapped in water. Families such as Tim, his mother Shirley, and Tim's caregiver Cristina, do not have a place to live now and will not for the unforseeable future.
Like Shirley as well as Tim's caregiver Cristina, most families affected by this historic flood do not have flood insurance because they live in the city, which is not supposed to see flooding of this magnitude. Income for the caregivers like Cristina is very low and replacing their daily life necessities will be difficult if not impossible for most. For many persons with developmental disabilities, their families and caregivers do not have the financial resources that most of us do to rely on during devastating times as this.
The donated funds from this GoFundMe account will be used for direct assistance to families like Tim's and their caregivers like Cristina, which Tim and others so desparately depend on for their daily functioning and care. Funds will be used to cover costs of home repairs or temporary housing assistance, furnishings and necessary equipment such as hoyer lifts and hospital matresses, and even to assist in replacing lost automobiles. Recipients of funds would be asked to make all efforts to work with their insurance and FEMA prior to receiving this assistance.
Due to the critical living situations of these individuals and families, these funds are needed now! The longer individuals with developmental disabilities have to remain in communal shelters, the greater their health and stability is compromised. Reliable transportation is needed now for caregivers whose autos were flooded so they can get to the individuals and families who desparately need their help!
We have been serving individuals with developmental disabilities and other special medical needs for more than 20 years. Having experienced similar desparate situations for families and caregivers during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we have seen how severe their situations can become. We are very much hoping this GoFundMe account can help to alleviate or prevent the desparate situations I have seen before. We will share with all donors the great good that will come from your donations, along with my sincere, heartfelt thanks for helping the people we serve and their caregivers!! Donation reciepts can be issued for tax purposes.
You may also help out with this cause by posting a link to this GoFundMe account to your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account or forward the URL address to your family and friends via email. Thank you so very much from Baton Rouge, Louisiana!
Like Shirley as well as Tim's caregiver Cristina, most families affected by this historic flood do not have flood insurance because they live in the city, which is not supposed to see flooding of this magnitude. Income for the caregivers like Cristina is very low and replacing their daily life necessities will be difficult if not impossible for most. For many persons with developmental disabilities, their families and caregivers do not have the financial resources that most of us do to rely on during devastating times as this.
The donated funds from this GoFundMe account will be used for direct assistance to families like Tim's and their caregivers like Cristina, which Tim and others so desparately depend on for their daily functioning and care. Funds will be used to cover costs of home repairs or temporary housing assistance, furnishings and necessary equipment such as hoyer lifts and hospital matresses, and even to assist in replacing lost automobiles. Recipients of funds would be asked to make all efforts to work with their insurance and FEMA prior to receiving this assistance.
Due to the critical living situations of these individuals and families, these funds are needed now! The longer individuals with developmental disabilities have to remain in communal shelters, the greater their health and stability is compromised. Reliable transportation is needed now for caregivers whose autos were flooded so they can get to the individuals and families who desparately need their help!
We have been serving individuals with developmental disabilities and other special medical needs for more than 20 years. Having experienced similar desparate situations for families and caregivers during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we have seen how severe their situations can become. We are very much hoping this GoFundMe account can help to alleviate or prevent the desparate situations I have seen before. We will share with all donors the great good that will come from your donations, along with my sincere, heartfelt thanks for helping the people we serve and their caregivers!! Donation reciepts can be issued for tax purposes.
You may also help out with this cause by posting a link to this GoFundMe account to your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account or forward the URL address to your family and friends via email. Thank you so very much from Baton Rouge, Louisiana!
Organizer and beneficiary
Gulf Coast Social Services
Organizer
Baton Rouge, LA
Persons with Disabilities
Beneficiary
