Newtown Force Softball Team Delivers Hurricane Relief

The Newtown Force Girls Softball team completed its Hurricane Katrina Relief effort by recently delivering the clothing, shoes, baby items, and personal products the team had collected from friends, family, and neighbors. It took 27 hours for Newtown Force Assistant Coach Dave Broughton and his wife Cindi to drive through 12 states to reach their destination of Lafayette, La.

The Broughtons were surprised to find so much tree damage as soon as they crossed the Mississippi state line. “The amount of damage to the environment is unbelievable as you get closer to the shore line,” said Ms Broughton.

The Broughtons reported that traffic was especially heavy in Louisiana near Baton Rouge and Lafayette, with all of the supply trucks, displaced people, additional workers, and volunteers converging on the area.

The Broughtons dropped off items at the Thomas Recreation Center. From there the items were taken to a shelter set up in the Cajun Dome at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for distribution. Ronnie Chaisson, the director of the center, was amazed with the generosity of everyone that donated and quite surprised that the Broughtons took the time to drive the goods down personally.

On their way home the Broughtons came across an animal shelter located at the Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette. The shelter is providing housing for dogs, cats, birds, and one iguana for hurricane victims staying at the Cajun Dome down the street. The shelter is run by volunteers from near and far with donated medical supplies and food. “Even though they can’t keep their pets with them at the Cajun Dome, it’s nice to know that their pets are close by so they can visit them,” Ms Broughton said.

The Broughtons told The Bee that everyone they encountered in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama were grateful for the enormous outpouring of donations and volunteers from across the country. “It will take a very long time and a continuous flow of resources to rebuild and repair all the damage Katrina caused, we need to keep them in our prayers,” said Ms Broughton.