The tourism community has been front and center in New Orleans’ role in helping victims of last month’s devastating south Louisiana floods. In mid-September, the Convention & Visitors Bureau donated $50,000 to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s flood relief fund. The donation comes on top of NOCVB’s members who contributed several pallets of food, bottled water, personal toiletries and cleaning supplies immediately after the flooding.

Those items, combined with generous donations collected by the Louisiana Restaurant Association and Second Harvest of Greater New Orleans were delivered to the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, which served as a main shelter and staging area for relief efforts.

In addition, several New Orleans-area chefs joined other south Louisiana cooks, preparing tens of thousands of meals over several days at Lamar Dixon for both evacuees and volunteers. Times-Picayune writer Judy Walker rode along with the chefs in late August for a heartwarming, firsthand account.

Residents are encouraged to continue supporting flood victims, who are just beginning the lengthy and arduous tasks of cleanup and recovery. Activated by Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s office in partnership with the Greater New Orleans Foundation, NOLA Pay It Forward Fund: Helping Families in Neighboring Parishes accepts cash donations online to help fund ongoing relief.

NOCVB President and CEO Stephen Perry says his organization will continue assessing flood victims’ needs and contribute more aid if needed. “We must remain engaged in their recovery and rebuilding in the weeks and months to come.”

New Orleans will always be there to help our neighbors.