Donations for The Ramsays - Flood Victims of Louisiana
 
This is just one story of the ravages of the floods this past weekend in Louisiana, but it is the one closest to me. My dear friend's parents, Joe & Linda Ramsay, lost everything.

The Ramsays reside in Central, Louisiana in a neighborhood where few were spared the impact of the flood. Joe is a 69 year old retired sheriff’s officer from East Baton Rouge, LA. His disability retirement began in 1989 when his patrol car was hit by a drunk driver.  Linda is 68 years old and retired in 2011 as Deputy Assistant Secretary from the Louisiana Dept. of Public Safety & Corrections with 42 years of service.

Joe and Linda both grew up in Central, where they bought their home over 40 years ago. Over the years, they added to their home making room for Linda’s monogramming equipment and adding a workshop for Joe’s classic cars. 

This past weekend, they lost their entire life’s work, to the rush of flood water that destroyed the entire contents of their home, workshop, and property.  And like over 80% of the folks in the flood area, Joe & Linda did not have flood insurance.

I met Joe & Linda on Sat 8/20. My husband and I wanted to do something for those we knew had been personally impacted by the flood. We loaded up some new plastic garbage cans with some items (cleaners, garbage bags, snacks, towels, etc.) that we hoped could be of some help. With the roads clear, we made a route up from New Orleans to Springfield and on to Central, LA (just east of Baton Rouge) to drop off the care packages to our friends.

While we felt prepared for what we might see, we were not. House after house, after house, devastated. People’s lives piled on the street. The smell of sewage, mold and rotting materials baked in the hot sun. Shocked looks on the faces of the homeowners. Some folks moved fast and with determination, tossing items into the pile. While others just looked as if they were moving through a nightmare; unsure, slow.  Pictures and reports on the news do not do it justice.

Luckily, people are resilient; they survive and find a way to put their lives back together, even though the task is almost unimaginable. The emotional cost to them and their loved ones has been overwhelming and the financial impact is extreme.

How do you begin? How do you start that long journey, past the days and days of cleaning, sorting, and making agonizing decisions? How do you start to begin to rebuild your life, when the financial cost alone is too much? This is where I felt I could help, by asking for donations.

Joe and Linda would never ask for your donations, so I am asking for them. I am not related to them, in fact, while they are my good friend’s parents, I only just met them because of this tragedy. But I feel compelled to ask. Your donation will provide comfort for the Ramsays and remind them that while the world may take all of what you own, it can also provide comfort and support from loved ones and strangers alike.

If you are or love a peace officer…
If you appreciate those who have spent their lives in public service…
If you just want to help…
 
Please donate.  (All funds that are collected will go to help the Ramsays get through the next step in flood recovery including lodging, food, clothing, building materials, repair services, etc. In addition, a process has been established through the GoFund Me site, so that the donations can be accessed & managed directly by the Ramsay's daughter, Jennifer Wild, who has been there for them every step of the way!)

It doesn’t matter the size of the donation, it will be so very much appreciated and it will allow them to find the beginning of their new lives.

 Thank you so very much,

 Sherri Merrill
(Part-time Louisiana Resident)