Written by WAFB Staff | August 17, 2016

The need for help from the public is growing.  Below are ways in which you can provide help to flood victims.

The BBB offers the following tips when donating money to organizations in times of need:

  • Be cautious about giving online, especially in response to spam messages and emails that claim to link to a relief organization. If you are seeking to give to a charity involved in relief efforts, go directly to the charity’s website
  • Be careful when relying on third-party recommendations, such as bloggers or other websites. They might have failed to fully research the listed relief organization
  • Be wary of claims that 100 percent of donations will assist victims. Despite what an organization might claim, charities have fundraising and administration costs. Even a credit card donation will involve, at minimum, a processing fee
  • Find out if the “charity” has an on-the-ground presence in the impacted area. See if the charity’s website clearly describes what it can do to address immediate needs. Charities that do not already have staff in the affected area may not be able to provide assistance quickly
  • Find out if the charity is providing direct aid or raising money for other groups. If so, you may want to consider “avoiding the middleman” and give directly to charities that have a presence in the devastated area
  • Do not give cash, but pay by check or credit card. Do not make a check payable to an individual – always make out your check to the charity.

For more information about “wise giving,” go to geauxbbb.org or www.give.org.

SHELTER NEEDS:

  • There is still a need at Lamar Dixon for volunteers, as well as pillows, blankets, towels, clothes, underwear (new in package) and Ziploc bags
  • The Baton Rouge River Center shelter is also requesting pillows, blankets, new children’s clothing and new socks/underwear
  • The City of Denham Springs, Healing Place Church, and Jefferson Baptist Church are working together to establish a distribution center to meet the needs of individuals in our community. Donations for the center can be dropped off at Healing Place’s Denham Springs campus, located in the 600 block of Florida Boulevard behind Whitney Bank, or at Jefferson Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. The following items are being are currently being accepted: 
    • Adult diapers
    • Medical supplies
    • Wheelchairs
    • Walkers
    • Oxygen tanks
    • Pillows
    • Blankets
    • Cleaning supplies
    • Toiletries
    • Toothbrushes  
    • Shoes (new or nearly new)
    • No clothing is being accepted at this time

VOLUNTEER/DONATION OPPORTUNITIES 

Read more…


Saurage Rotenberg Commercial Real Estate is a member of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce (BRAC); the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce; the Baton Rouge Better Business Bureau; the Louisiana Commercial Data Base (LACDB); and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Several agents, on an individual basis, are members of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors® (SIOR), the Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute (CCIM); the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR); and the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS® Commercial Investment Division (CID).