Photos by Rocky Kistner/NRDC
"I never thought I would be doing this," says Vickie, looking like a happy school girl wandering through a candy store. "The donations we have received have been incredible. The best thing about it is that everything we get goes straight to people who need it. And there are a lot of them."
Vickie, like her colleagues, works for free and has put plenty of her money and time into this effort. But the rewards are priceless. She shops at the Dollar Store and Wal-Mart, knowing every dollar saved means another toy or can of food for someone else.
Yesterday, JJ Creppel came to pick up a box of food after Kindra dropped off a box of supplies for his daughter Jennifer and her six children. Jennifer worked last year part time helping fishermen, but so far she has received just $700 compensation from BP. After the oil spill, much of the fishing industry around here is on life support.
With little work to be found, boxes of food will not last long since the need is so great. This weekend, CHSL will have a major fundraiser in New Orleans at Howlin Wolf, where some of the top local musicians, dancers and comedians will perform for free. Money raised from this event will go straight to those who most in need. The all volunteer staff will make sure of that.
"We've all put lots of our own money and time into this, but there's no better feeling like giving something back to your community," says Kindra, whose husband David is back fishing the deep coastal waters, far from polluted areas closer to shore.
Photo by Rocky Kistner/NRDC
Some residents here like Kindra, Vickie and Joannie have the means to make it through this crisis. But many others don't. As long as members of Congress support the status quo of self-destructive energy policies, people like JJ and his family will remain the forgotten and neglected victims of a country addicted to oil.
For those who live along BP's oil damaged coast, groups like CHSL are doing what they can to make it right. And they could do even more for the families of the Gulf with our support this holiday season.
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