St. Charles lends helping hand to LaPlace flood victims

Donation drop-offs include First National Bank USA, Gardner Realtors

Victims of flood damage in LaPlace have had to place all of their belongings in their front yards.

Residents interested in lending a helping hand to flood victims in LaPlace can drop off items at any First National Bank USA.

The donation drive is spearheaded by Audrey Raziano, who works at the bank and has a brother who’s home was flooded in LaPlace. Raziano said that all items are accepted, including clothing, pillows, blankets and cleaning supplies.

"These people have lost everything," Raziano said.

In fact, Raziano spent Labor Day helping her brother gut his LaPlace home.

"When you are on Airline Highway, it looks fine, but when you get into the subdivisions you see that people literally have their lives on their lawn," she said. "It’s not just carpet and sheetrock, it’s playpens and mattresses. Everything they have is on the lawn."

Raziano said that vehicles have floated away from homes and that boats used to rescue flood victims are now on dry land after the waters receded.

"When these people were rescued all they left with were the clothes on their backs," Raziano said.

First National Bank USA has branches in Boutte (13386 Hwy. 90), Norco (590 Apple St.) and LaPlace (377 Belle Terre Blvd.).

Raziano said there is no cut off for donations and that she will make as many trips to LaPlace as she needs to.

"We have been getting a good bit of cleaning supplies and I have gotten a lot of texts from people who are gathering stuff," she said.

The Basketry, in Luling, will also donate any tips received for "Wrappin’ for a Cause" to flood victims. Kristi Brocato, owner of the store, said that each month The Basketry donates tips to a different charity.

"This month we are donating to flood victims," she said.

On Saturday, the Saints Board of Realtors set up drop-off points at the Gardner Realtors stores in LaPlace, Destrehan and Boutte in order to collect supplies for flood victims. Items received included cleaning supplies, gift bags and household items like shampoo, toothpaste and deodorant.

"The community was so generous," Regina Allemand, president of the Saints Board of Realtors, said. "Of course its only a drop in the bucket, but every nook and cranny of my big ole’ Yukon was filled to the top with supplies."

Allemand said that residents can continue to drop off cleaning items, bottled water and paper products like plates, bowls, napkins and utensils throughout the week at the three offices.

They are located in LaPlace (301 W. Airline Hwy.), Destrehan (12519 Airline Hwy.) and Boutte (13371 Hwy. 90).

A donation center has also been set up in LaPlace at the old Rainbow Chevrolet parking lot located at 2020 W. Airline Hwy. The center is open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and donations such as water, cleaning supplies, non-perishable food items and infant supplies are being accepted.

If any other people or organizations are collecting supplies for LaPlace flood victims, contact the Herald-Guide at (955) 758-2795 so that the info can be included online at www.heraldguide.com.