AUGUST 31, 2005

REQUEST FOR HELP AND ASSISTANCE

The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence is receiving many calls for people wanting to help and we need this. What we need is monetary donations that will be specially earmarked for battered women and their children. Federal monetary assistance will not come for a while. They are still in search and rescue mode and distribution of water and food.

1) Monetary Assistance LCADV has setup the Louisiana Domestic Violence Victim Hurricane Relief Fund, see attached Press Release.

We have women trying to relocate who cannot afford gasoline, if they can find gas. We are totally out of gas, ice, bottled water, and some food items here in Baton Rouge. The bus lines are running, so we are relocating women and children this way. We have battered women and children in emergency Red Cross shelters with batterers and calls/reports of abuse are coming into our state crisis line. We have families needing food, diapers, formula, water, etc. I am attaching a press release we are sending out. If you could put that on your website, send it to your email list, etc.

2) Resource List: We are maintaining a spreadsheet of organizations who have contacted us to offer help. We will add your name to that list with your permission. Also we are keeping an accounting of open bed space throughout the US so that when we try to relocate battered women we know where to begin to look. We are sending this info to all the DV programs in Louisiana.

6 of our DV programs are completing closed, 4 are totally destroyed in the New Orleans metro area, we have 2 directors missing, and many DV program staff we cannot locate. Of course, we are worried about the battered women and children, but we are also worried about our extended family – our member DV program staff and the many people we know and work with daily from this area. LCADV has two staff people from New Orleans who have lost everything.

Thanks for your offer.

Angela Clark
Associate Executive Director
Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
PO Box 77308
Baton Rouge, LA 70879-7308
Email: aclcadv@aol.com
Website: http://www.lcadv.org/
State Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-888-411-1333

 Press Release

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 AUGUST 31, 2005

Louisiana Domestic Violence Victim’s Hurricane Relief Fund

The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV), a private 501c3, not-for-profit organization incorporated in 1982, is establishing a Louisiana Domestic Violence Victim’s Hurricane Relief Fund to assist victims of domestic violence and child victimization who are displaced and affected by Hurricane Katrina.

 LCADV is a network of 20 domestic violence programs/shelters throughout the state. Four of our shelters and two nonresidential programs are completely closed at the time and two or three may be completely destroyed. Sad to say, domestic violence and child victimization are social problems that do not stop during this natural disaster we are experiencing and with cessation of all direct services in the gulf coast region, the increased need for relocation and basic monetary assistance is essential for these women and children.

 LCADV is accepting donations that are specifically earmarked to assist battered survivors and their children who have been directly affected/displaced by the hurricane. The donations will be used to assist battered victims from the following parishes in Louisiana: Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines.

 The donations will be used for the following purposes:

1. Relocation of domestic violence victims.
2. Purchasing of basic needs, i.e. baby formula, diapers, food, clothing, etc.  that could not be met elsewhere.
3. Deposits on houses, electric bills,  
4. Car repair, gas, public transportation
5. Medical/prescription needs,
6. Other basic, life sustaining needs

 All donations go directly to victims of domestic violence affected by this hurricane and will not be used for any administrative or other purposes.

The Louisiana Domestic Violence Hurricane Relief Fund Account is setup with AmSouth Bank which is located in the following states:  Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. If you live in one of these states you could make a donation at the local AmSouth Bank Branch to the LCADV Domestic Violence Hurricane Relief Fund Account number: 0020085338. Donations from other states can be made through wire transfer to this account.  

If you would like to make a donation using MasterCard or Visa, you may contact the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence office at 225-752-1296 with your credit card information. Donations may also be electronically deposited into our account by faxing a voided check with the amount of the donation to (225)751-8927. LCADV will setup an electronic deposit and you will receive confirmation of your donation with the tax-deductible receipt.