4-H'ers spring into action to help with flood recovery efforts

By: LSU AgCenter Olivia McClure at omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu
DENHAM SPRINGS She was only a young child when Hurricane Rita struck Louisiana in September 2005, but the images of the storm’s aftermath in coastal Cameron Parish have stayed with Alanah Theriot ever since: streets that filled at first with floodwaters, then with the piles of debris that accumulated as people sorted through the remains of their ravaged homes and businesses.
“I remember eating terrible food and living from house to house, staying with family or in campers, having campers hooked up to your house, helping everyone that you can,” Theriot said.
It was those memories that gave Theriot, now 17 and a member of Louisiana 4-H Food and Fitness Board, the idea to go to Livingston Parish and help as residents begin the recovery process following historic flooding in south Louisiana earlier this month.
She rallied fellow Cameron Parish 4-H’ers and her classmates at Grand Lake High School to collect donations of food and supplies that they delivered to a food pantry at Live Oak United Methodist Church in Watson on Aug. 27. They made earlier deliveries to Kaplan and Abbeville in Vermilion Parish.
After dropping off their donations, Theriot and a group of about 20 4-H’ers split up to tackle cleanup projects at a home in Denham Springs and another local church. At the house, they tore out damaged flooring and pieces of wood and hauled soaked drywall to the curb.
“I wanted to come because when we had the hurricane, others came and helped us,” Theriot said. “We’re just going to pay it forward and help them out. We’re ready to get our hands dirty and have at it.”
4-H members take a pledge that includes a promise to use their hands for service. It is important for 4‑H’ers to make good on that commitment in times of need in the community, Theriot said.
The Cameron Parish youth are among several groups from 4-H clubs around the state that have organized collection drives and cleanup teams to help as south Louisiana communities deal with the flood’s damage. Many 4-H groups are also participating in a statewide school supply drive to help students who lost those items and will be returning to class soon.
Avoyelles Parish 4-H has delivered trailer loads of personal items and cleaning products to flood-affected areas, said 4-H agent Esther Boe. They pulled drywall, insulation and nails from three homes in the Baton Rouge area on Aug. 27.
In Vernon Parish, 4-H’ers collected cleaning supplies, tote bags, food, diapers, hand sanitizer, blankets, shoes, mops, brooms and buckets. They brought the items to Abbeville to the LSU AgCenter office and Meaux Elementary School, which is serving as a distribution site, said 4-H agent Kemberly Johnson.
“We spoke to residents and toured the flood-ridden areas of Vermilion and Acadia parishes,” she said. “After determining the needs of the distribution centers, we are continuing to collect items.”
Some Vernon Parish 4-H’ers are planning to go to Acadia Parish in the coming weeks to help with demolition and reconstruction, Johnson said.
Christina Hebert’s 4-H’ers in Iberville Parish visited a shelter in Port Allen in neighboring West Baton Rouge Parish soon after the flood. They played games with children there and donated toys, coloring books and crayons.