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Baton Rouge

Assisting Evacuees at a Baton Rouge Mosque

Based in Baton Rouge, this Mosque, known as "Masjid Sabiqun" of Baton Rouge opened its doors to evacuees fleeing New Orleans. From August 27 to October 15, 2005,140 victims (Muslims and non-Muslims alike) of Hurricane Katrina were given shelter, food and other relief at the mosque.

Evacuees were provided with:
Emergency shelter, food, and mental health services to address basic needs
Basic assistance, e.g., groceries, new/use clothing, temporary housing, medicines, transportation and basic household items
School placement for students who had evacuated from New Orleans
Information and referral sources to help those affected obtain other resources
Emergency communication between disaster victims and family members located outside the disaster area

Islamic Relief provided the Mosque with an emergency relief grant of $20,000 towards the support of this shelter.

Islamic Relief also helped relocate families to apartments, provided the transportation costs to and from the apartments, provided a facility for showering, rented a storage space for supplies, and provided labor cost and materials for other needs.

Islamic Relief provided the shelter with food and non-food items as well as assisting in creating a distribution center serving settled evacuees in Baton Rouge.

Miss Valerie's Cajun Kitchen

The facility has been an Islamic Relief distribution point for the rural parishes of Marigouin, Livonia and Grosse Tete since the second week of September.

This facility feeds over 120 people daily and supports the same amount of people with other needed supplies on a weekly basis.

The Links La Capitale Chapter

Islamic Relief supplied and assisted their distribution of food items and hygiene supplies on Saturday, November 19. In partnership with A Place of Refuge, 1,655 evacuees living in Renaissance Village (a collection of 573 FEMA trailers) benefited from this project.

A Place of Refuge

The first of its kind group home licensed in the State of Louisiana established to address the special needs of teenage mothers and their children.

Islamic Relief supplied the group home with food (dry, frozen, and canned), cleaning supplies, personal hygiene supplies, baby supplies, kitchen supplies, clothing, bedding, and water.

The organization supplies an entire apartment complex of evacuees weekly and has alternating projects on the weekend to aid in the relief effort. The number of recipients of food and supplies fluctuates between 800-2,000 victims/evacuees a week

Greater True Love Missionary Baptist Church

Islamic Relief distributed food (dry, frozen, canned), cleaning supplies, personal hygiene supplies, baby supplies, clothing, bedding and water to the congregation and others living in the trailer parks established by FEMA.

Professional Athletes Supporting Students (PASS)

Non-profit group created by the Baton Rouge chapter of NFL Players Association to assist children and their families affected by the hurricane.

PASS receives food (dry, frozen, canned), cleaning supplies, personal hygiene supplies, baby supplies, clothing, bedding and water from the Baton Rouge Islamic Relief warehouse. Islamic Relief is also assisting PASS to become a Voluntary Agency within FEMA.

New Orleans

Magnolia Farmers Market / Islamic Relief New Orleans Distribution Point

The Magnolia Farmers Market is an approximately 6,000 square feet facility that has been established as an Islamic Relief distribution point in the center of New Orleans also known as Central City.

Over 2,500 displaced or returning residents in a mere two week documented period have been served from this location with food and non-food items.

Common Ground Collective

Common Ground is dedicated to the rebuilding of the New Orleans community with the motto of "Solidarity not Charity".

Islamic Relief provides some of the supplies to 3 of Common Grounds distribution points that serve 220-300 victims of the hurricane daily.

Islamic Relief is allocating building supplies needed for Common Ground's community center in the 9th Ward.

Masjid Al Tawbah/Muslim Academy

This site has been able to accommodate evacuees/victims with aid and assistance.

Islamic Relief supplies Masjid Tawbah with food (dry, frozen, canned), cleaning supplies, personal hygiene supplies, baby supplies, clothing, water and school supplies via the Islamic Relief Baton Rouge distribution warehouse and the Food Bank of New Orleans.

Once New Orleans opened up slowly to residents and relief agencies, Islamic Relief began assisting residents of the devastated city. There will be increased needs for clean-up, transportation, and counseling services for evacuees in the long-term.

In its relief efforts in the city, Islamic Relief has provided the following supplies to at least 2,517 displaced or returning residents:

Food and Snacks
Baby food and other Baby Needs
Cleaning kits
Personal hygiene supplies
Water and Juice