When Hurricane Ida hit southern Louisiana in late August of this year, we reached out to source a way to provide whatever we could to offer caring support to the hundreds of families displaced by the storm. What we found was an organization called Friend Ships a/k/a Park West Children’s Fund that was actively participating in disaster relief efforts.
Friend Ships was originally established 38 years ago to provide programs for abused children. Over the years, it’s mission has expanded to providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief to many parts of the world. One of their bases of operation is in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Through dialogue with the folks at Friend Ships, UCA learned of the hundreds of displaced families that were not expected
to return home anytime soon. The children of these families were dealing with the harsh realities of losing their home and possessions. Huddled in shelters, they were disoriented and feeling anxious and unsafe. It became clear that these children needed an anchor of security.
We immediately set to work packing up 300 Because We Care Kits to send to Friend Ships for distribution to those children. Each child would now have their very own duffle bag, cushy blanket printed with Moonbud and Sunbuddy’s positive feeling faces, their own towel, as well as a set of Moonbud Feeling Cards with Dictionary to explain all the emotions along with a journal and pen to help express their feelings in writing or pictures. When the Care Kits arrived, they were distributed by Friend Ships’ workers and volunteers to those children most in need.
When an event such as Hurricane Ida disrupts the familiar day to day lives of children, a gesture of comfort and caring can give hope and a sense of safety to carry them through. Unified Caring Association is grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this process for the displaced children in the southern Louisiana area.