Help residents in Baton Rouge get critical supplies to survive

ATLANTA — Channel 2 Action News is teaming up with local law enforcement to gather supplies to send to flood victims in Louisiana.

Thousands of people are in critical need of supplies -- and you can help by joining the Convoy of Care.

WSB-TV is partnering with law enforcement agencies from around the state to get them the supplies they desperately need right now.

Local police, sheriff's offices, state patrol and National Organization of Black Law Enforcement executives are all gathered to kick off what will be a nationwide effort.

They want to go beyond the badge to show their hearts; reaching beyond those they help every day in their communities, to the tens of thousands in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, forced from their homes.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Detective provides new details in Roswell teens' killing investigation
• Police search for hit-and-run driver who caused fatal crash
• CONVOY OF CARE: Help residents in Baton Rouge get critical supplies to survive

“When we get up every day, every person that's in law enforcement -- no matter what the uniform looks like-- we get up to help people and this is another example of our trying to help,” Terry Norris of the Georgia Sheriff’s Association said.

You can help by donating toiletries, cleaning supplies, baby items like diapers and formula, paper products, detergent, toothpaste, towels, undershirts, socks and underwear; anything someone living in a shelter, lost everything may need to get by.

You can come by starting at 8 a.m. Saturday.

WSB-TV will be at The Atlanta Civic Center Parking lot off Ralph McGill Boulevard all day Saturday and Sunday -- then later this week, the trucks will be rolling to Baton Rouge.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Drop off toiletries, cleaning supplies, baby formula, diapers, paper products, underwear, undershirts, socks, bath towels, washcloths, laundry detergent, bleach, lotion toothpaste, deodorant, soap, body wash, feminine hygiene products, etc.
Collections will be accepted Saturday & Sunday August 20-21 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Atlanta Civic Center parking lot, 395 Piedmont Avenue, NE, Atlanta 30308.
In addition to N.O.B.L.E., the Sheriffs' Association and Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Emergency Management Agency and the nonprofit, Caring for Others, Inc. are participating in the Convoy of Care.

HOW IT STARTED

“It started with a conference call from one of our Baton Rouge members of N.O.B.L.E.,” said Cox. “We were told that the situation in Baton Rouge felt worse than Hurricane Katrina. It was obvious to me that we needed to put a plan in action to serve some of the very communities we are sworn to protect.

“We also have several members who are affected by the devastating floods including Baton Rouge Constable Reggie Brown. Because of the partnerships and affiliation of Terry Norris of the Georgia Sheriffs' Association and Frank Rotondo of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, I thought that now would be a great time to demonstrate to the members of our communities how law enforcement really intends to bridge the gap that people perceive exists between law enforcement and the community,”

This effort will kick off a national campaign coordinated throughout the country for additional relief to those persons affected by these tragic natural disasters.

The Georgia Motor Trucking Association members are donating their tractor trailer trucks for collection and delivery to Baton Rouge. The law firm of Stewart, Seay and Felton is underwriting security of the trucks and donations.

Cox Media Group