OMG... The amazing power of a community. Awesome News!

[crazycajuncane]

Ok guys... this is where we get some amazing news.

I got out of the University at 5 pm and it took me over an hour to get home, when it usually takes 20 minutes. I get home and the local TV station is having a donation drive. I hurry and change my clothes and call my best friend to head down there to help. We get there and just start unloading vehicles. For miles... cars never stopped coming from 6 - 11 pm.

I was actually posted up in the street directing traffic. There weren't enough cops to help.

$70,000 in cash was raised in a few hours. Donations were lined up all over the place. Food was being sent in by the tons. I know this community has pulled together before. We've had some of the higest St. Jude donations in the state, but this..... was just speechless. I stopped to talk to the media and they were in awe of the amount of donations.

I ended up donating 5 hours of time (best 5 hours spent in my opinion) this evening to help out and I'll be there probably Sunday and Monday as well. The Red Cross is looking for volunteers to serve food and help manage the place. I can tell you they served hamburgers, hotdogs, rice dressing, chips, candy... it was amazing. the number to help around here is 337-232-HELP

The Cajundome will open to New Orleans residents for over a month. I was told that students can begin registering for school in Lafayette Parish as soon as tomorrow.

I spoke to the Business director of the Cajundome who said they'll bring thousands more into the Cajundome and possible open up the Convention center (which is 1/4 full of donations right now)

We are expected to have 20,000 and possibly more staying in Lafayette over the next month.

We've opened our hearts to these wonderful people. I even saw a person give a complete stranger a ride to Breaux Bridge. These people are a part of our community and I hope all in Lafayette get a chance to help (donations, time, money etc.)

It was just simply amazing. May god bless all the survivors!

[jasons2k]

Awesome! I think I will go to bed with that thought. Thank you!

[Roxy]

That's awesome!

Oh and yum...rice dressing.

[donsutherland1]

Crazycajuncane,

Thanks for sharing this terrific news. That's quite a contrast--and a most welcome one at that--from the dreary pessimism that is being peddled around the Internet.

[JenBayles]

Thanks so much for the positive post. I really needed that!

[cycloneye]

We need more positive news like this one.Thanks for posting it.

[msbee]

that is absolutely fabulous!
the media seems to wnat to report the worst, but it has been my experience that, in times of terrible tragedies, most people do pull together and help each other out.

[crazycajuncane]

Tradgies will bring out the best in the best and yes sometimes the worst out of the worst. You guys need to keep reading this thread, because it seems like soon the whole U.S. will be setting up donation areas.

As of today they actually stopped taking clothing items I believe.

Let's all continue to do what we can. $1... $20... food ... housing... we will make it through this disaster.

[birdwomn]

May god bless all the survivors!

May God also bless those of you close to the situation who are making things better for the survivors! Thanks for this positive post!