Shell Oil Donates Funds to Hurricane Rebuilding Efforts

Shell Oil, in partnership with the Brees Dream Foundation, recently donated $50,000 to St. John United Way to assist in hurricane recovery and rebuilding efforts throughout St. John the Baptist Parish.

The donation was made to St. John United Way’s NO Place Like Home program. NO Place Like works to coordinate the return of families to safe, secure and functional housing through partnerships with local nonprofit organizations, donors, companies, and other entities.

SJUW NO Place Like Home partners include the St. John the Baptist Parish Long Term Recovery Group and Eight Days of Hope.

The SJBP LTRG is a group of faith-based, non-profit, governmental, business, and other organizations and agencies providing financial support, material, and/or labor to address the needs of St. John the Baptist Parish residents in response to damage sustained from Hurricane Isaac and subsequent disasters as needed.

The organizations involved in the SJBP LTRG involved include Catholic Charities, BRACES, UMCOR, New Wine Development Corporation, United Way, St. John the Baptist Parish, and many others. These organizations are working in various subcommittees based on the type of skills or support they provide. The subcommittees include case management, volunteer and donation coordination, construction cleanup and unmet needs.

SJUW provided the principal monetary donation of $125,000 to the SJBP LTRG in November 2012.

To date, the SJBP LTRG has processed over 1000 requests for assistance from individuals who sustained damaged as a result of Hurricane Isaac. The long term recovery group has been able to fully complete 549 cases. The SJBP LTRG has utilized over 830 volunteers totaling over 21,500 volunteer hours.

Residents needing assistance recovering from damaged sustained through Hurricane Isaac can call 985-359-0254, email isaacassistance@sjbparish.com or visit www.stjohnrecovery.com. Residents can also visit the SJBP LTRG Volunteer Reception Center at 1933 West Airline Hwy in LaPlace.

SJUW NO Place Like Home and the SJBP LTRG have also partnered to bring the faith-based organization, Eight Days of Hope, to St. John the Baptist Parish.

Eight Days of Hope is scheduled to lead a major rebuilding effort of over 150 homes affected by Hurricane Isaac in St. John Parish from March 9 to March 16, 2013. Approximately 2480 skilled volunteers from across the nation are expected to descend on the parish to provide the rebuilding assistance. Homes will be selected through case management conducted by various volunteer agencies.

Through their partnership, SJUW NO Place Like Home and the SJBP LTRG has contributed a combined $50,000 to fund the upcoming EDOH project.