Another Louisiana town in need

That said, the good folks in St. Landry Parish seem to be raking in a fair amount of goods from other parts in the country. Not so for Ville Platte, Louisiana, where my mama's people live.

Evacuees who've landed in Ville Platte are spread throughout the area in people's homes, in hotels and at Chicot State Park (where I spent quite a bit of time as a child). There is no central shelter, but the Ville Platte Northside Civic Center, which is receiving NO GOVERNMENT OR RED CROSS ASSISTANCE at this point, is acting as a food and clothes bank and a central clearing house.

I just got off the phone with Barbara Delafosse of the Civic Center (who, not suprisingly, knows my god mother). She said that they don't need clothes. But they could use:

*Canned goods
*Non-perishable food items
*Diapers. Size 2 diapers would be a help as apparently three evacuee babies have been born in the last few weeks
*And, for people who'll be returning to their homes (hopefully soon), cleaning supplies.

Ms. Delafosse pointed out that, yes, some of these things are hard to ship, but she also suggested Wal-Mart Gift Cards, which can be purchased online here. Another good thing about the cards, most of which will be handed directly to evacuees, is that they can be used for gas (Wal-Mart rocks).

So, if you have it left in you (or your pocketbook), send those cards or cans of creamed corn to

Katrina Relief Fund
Ville Platte Northside Civic Center
Attention: Barbara Delafosse/Jennifer Vidrine
704 North Soileau Street
Ville Platte, La. 70586

If you want to send a check, make it payable to Katrina Relief Fund-Ville Platte. For the next couple of weeks any donations to PayPal will go to these guys.

And even if you're closet, checkbook, mind or whatever is exhausted, provide a link. Thanks!

By the way, Ville Platte is home to both the Cotton Festival and the Smoked Meat Festival. MMMMMMMmmmmmm, smoked meat.