The people of Calcasieu and Cameron prishes have not forgotten the help they received from others after the hurricanes. Some are paying it forward, departing Southwest Louisiana by plane, train and automobiles.

Southland Field Airport Manager Tim LeFleur coordinated a “pack the plane” event along with Friendships, a local all-volunteer international relief organization; Golden Nugget Casino and Pat and Liz Sewell.

The Sewells own the plane that was packed with warm jackets, blankets and pillows, something recommended to LeFleur by North Carolina pilots, according to Darla Perry, CPA. Cash donations were also accepted. Perry said donors wished to remain anonymous.

“We still have a lot more to send, pots, pans and chairs,” she said. “We’ll send that by truck.”

Pilot Liz Sewell coordinated with Good Shepherd Episcopal Church of Cashiers, North Carolina to distribute the items. She is now working with FedEx to take additional deliveries.

Everything and a kitchen sink

Bill Terry of Carlyss said he saw an incredible outpouring of generosity from local churches and at Stines when he picked up black and yellow waterproof totes to send to hurricane victims last week.

“Jeff Roach and eight others from Cheniere LNG pulled this together,” Terry said. “People were just walking up to us and saying, hey, we saw you loading up stuff. Where are you heading with that? Can we help?”

Six 40-foot cattle trailers were loaded to the brim, some loaded with tractors. Supplies were gathered from St. Theresa, First Baptist Maplewood, Holy Trinity Episcopal, Lighthouse Tabernacle and Stine.

“We even loaded a portable kitchen sink,” Terry said.

No quid pro quo

A week ago, ten local men and three women packed chainsaws and a week’s worth of work clothes and drove to  Swannanoa, N.C., representing Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief. They mudded out houses and cleared felled trees. Dale Smith of Trinity Baptist Church said up to three feet of water had coursed through homes close to waterways. Clean water had to be trucked in. So were porta potties because the sewer system is out.

SBC Disaster Relief did a lot of work in this area after Hurricane Laura, Smith said. But that’s not why he went.

“We go to love on people that are hurting. To give them some hope. To move them along the line of recovery and to share God’s love with them.”