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UPDATE 2:
Dear Friends,
The Baumgardners have been blown away by everyone's generosity. They are so grateful for everyone's thoughts, prayers, and contributions. The Baumgardners's sons will be in Baton Rouge with them this Labor Day weekend as they move into their new home and begin to rebuild their lives.
At this time we've far exceeded our original goal of $10,000. Thank you everyone for rising to the occasion and helping Bill and Brenda. We will be closing the campaign at noon tomorrow, and the Baumgarders will have the funds as soon as this weekend.
Thank you again to everyone.
Geaux Baumgardners, geaux Baton Rouge, and geaux everyone who came together here to make a difference in Bill and Brenda's lives.
UPDATE: Thanks to so many people's amazing generosity we've already reached our goal and then some. The Baumgardners are a simple and generous family. In a time when so many of their friends and neighbors are in need, they want everyone giving to them to know that any money they receive in excess of their needs will go to help their neighbors rebuild their own lives.
Below is a picture of the Baumgardners' street.
Brenda and Bill Baumgardner met at LSU in the 1950s and settled in South Louisiana. There they made their home, built a life together, and raised their three sons. They've spent the last fifty years of their lives in that same home in Baton Rouge.
On Saturday, August 13th, they, along with their beloved dog Sadie, evacuated their home in the middle of the night as flood waters began to rise quickly. By the time they realized they needed to leave there was no longer a clear road for them to take to safety. They were stranded on a small "island" of dry land (previously a road), and were rescued by their grandson, Krae. Krae found a kind stranger with a boat who was willing to help him find his grandparents – these citizen-heroes have affectionately become known as the “Cajun Navy” for all of their selfless actions and willingness to assist others in need. Now it is our turn – call us the “Cajun Army” – to offer land based assistance and help Brenda, Bill, and Sadie restart their lives.
Although Brenda, Bill, and Sadie were rescued and are in good spirits, their home is a total loss. Because the home was not located in a flood zone it is not covered by flood insurance. Brenda and Bill have lost everything except for a few photos and other valued possessions they were able to salvage last weekend while cleaning out the house.
In the coming days and weeks they will begin to rebuild their lives in Baton Rouge in a different home. In Brenda and Bill’s time of need their three sons came together to help them purchase a new home in Baton Rouge. With a roof over their head they now need our help to furnish their new home and start filling it with the necessities of life that we all take for granted. Please consider donating cash for them to use to fill their home and to build new memories. And, as is the spirit of South Louisiana, Bill and Brenda also wish to share any funds raised with their neighbors as they too begin to rebuild their lives.
If you would like to help, anything you can give is appreciated.
Who we are: My name is Shannon Falon. I'm a coworker of Bill and Brenda's son. Our office is located in Greenville, SC, where one of the sons works. We can't provide the son's name or company due to company policy.
Raising Money for: Bill and Brenda Baumgardner, victims of South LA flooding, 50 year residents of the same home in Baton Rouge.
Money will be used to: Help Bill and Brenda rebuild their lives. Bill lost his hearing aides, which he recently paid $5000 out of pocket for, which he'll need to replace. Any remaining funds will then go to furniture, followed by clothing, medicine, linens, and other household items.
Withdrawal Plan: Donations will go through the couple's son, Joe, located in Lexington, KY. He will handle the technical aspects of withdrawing the money, and will transfer the money directly to his parents.
Brenda salvaging what she can after the flood waters receded.
Inside the home after the flood. Everything not above the waterline was destroyed.
Bill and Brenda after their dramatic rescue. Wet, hot, and shaken up, but thankful to be saved. The items in their hands are all they were able to escape with. In the bottom corner is their dog, Sadie. Brenda injured her knee saving Sadie during the comotion of the night.
A member of the "Cajun Navy" who helped Krae find and rescue his grandparents.
Dear Friends,
The Baumgardners have been blown away by everyone's generosity. They are so grateful for everyone's thoughts, prayers, and contributions. The Baumgardners's sons will be in Baton Rouge with them this Labor Day weekend as they move into their new home and begin to rebuild their lives.
At this time we've far exceeded our original goal of $10,000. Thank you everyone for rising to the occasion and helping Bill and Brenda. We will be closing the campaign at noon tomorrow, and the Baumgarders will have the funds as soon as this weekend.
Thank you again to everyone.
Geaux Baumgardners, geaux Baton Rouge, and geaux everyone who came together here to make a difference in Bill and Brenda's lives.
UPDATE: Thanks to so many people's amazing generosity we've already reached our goal and then some. The Baumgardners are a simple and generous family. In a time when so many of their friends and neighbors are in need, they want everyone giving to them to know that any money they receive in excess of their needs will go to help their neighbors rebuild their own lives.
Below is a picture of the Baumgardners' street.
Brenda and Bill Baumgardner met at LSU in the 1950s and settled in South Louisiana. There they made their home, built a life together, and raised their three sons. They've spent the last fifty years of their lives in that same home in Baton Rouge.
On Saturday, August 13th, they, along with their beloved dog Sadie, evacuated their home in the middle of the night as flood waters began to rise quickly. By the time they realized they needed to leave there was no longer a clear road for them to take to safety. They were stranded on a small "island" of dry land (previously a road), and were rescued by their grandson, Krae. Krae found a kind stranger with a boat who was willing to help him find his grandparents – these citizen-heroes have affectionately become known as the “Cajun Navy” for all of their selfless actions and willingness to assist others in need. Now it is our turn – call us the “Cajun Army” – to offer land based assistance and help Brenda, Bill, and Sadie restart their lives.
Although Brenda, Bill, and Sadie were rescued and are in good spirits, their home is a total loss. Because the home was not located in a flood zone it is not covered by flood insurance. Brenda and Bill have lost everything except for a few photos and other valued possessions they were able to salvage last weekend while cleaning out the house.
In the coming days and weeks they will begin to rebuild their lives in Baton Rouge in a different home. In Brenda and Bill’s time of need their three sons came together to help them purchase a new home in Baton Rouge. With a roof over their head they now need our help to furnish their new home and start filling it with the necessities of life that we all take for granted. Please consider donating cash for them to use to fill their home and to build new memories. And, as is the spirit of South Louisiana, Bill and Brenda also wish to share any funds raised with their neighbors as they too begin to rebuild their lives.
If you would like to help, anything you can give is appreciated.
Who we are: My name is Shannon Falon. I'm a coworker of Bill and Brenda's son. Our office is located in Greenville, SC, where one of the sons works. We can't provide the son's name or company due to company policy.
Raising Money for: Bill and Brenda Baumgardner, victims of South LA flooding, 50 year residents of the same home in Baton Rouge.
Money will be used to: Help Bill and Brenda rebuild their lives. Bill lost his hearing aides, which he recently paid $5000 out of pocket for, which he'll need to replace. Any remaining funds will then go to furniture, followed by clothing, medicine, linens, and other household items.
Withdrawal Plan: Donations will go through the couple's son, Joe, located in Lexington, KY. He will handle the technical aspects of withdrawing the money, and will transfer the money directly to his parents.
Brenda salvaging what she can after the flood waters receded.
Inside the home after the flood. Everything not above the waterline was destroyed.
Bill and Brenda after their dramatic rescue. Wet, hot, and shaken up, but thankful to be saved. The items in their hands are all they were able to escape with. In the bottom corner is their dog, Sadie. Brenda injured her knee saving Sadie during the comotion of the night.
A member of the "Cajun Navy" who helped Krae find and rescue his grandparents.
Organizer and beneficiary
Bill and Brenda Baumgardner
Beneficiary