Date: September 8th, 2012Dear Fellow HOSA Members,
I am sure you are aware of the devastation Hurricane Isaac has done to the gulf coast states this past week, particularly southeast Louisiana and southwest Mississippi, and then on into Alabama and Florida. Watching the news was heart-wrenching. Many lost everything they had, and some of those homes had just been re-built last year from Hurricane Katrina in 2005!
What really brought this close to home was that one of the HOSA chapter schools in Louisiana was also flooded! The Advisor of that chapter lost her home and vehicle in the flooding as well. Also, our HOSA State Secretary attends that school. His family fared well, but so many were not that lucky and lost homes and are in shelters in other cities. Our State Secretary has been working with the local rescues first to help rescue people last week, and now to help people with clean-up, restoring and rebuilding. We are very proud of him! Some of the other chapter members have also been involved in the clean-up efforts and helping others. The students from that school will be going back to school later this week, but will be all split up and sent to other schools. Despite that, the members are excited to keep moving forward! No hurricane can hold us down!
The people of Louisiana are always willing to help others in need, but once again, many here now need the help of others. I have a strong belief in the power of HOSA, and the willingness of everyone in HOSA to step up to the plate and show that we can make a difference.
I am asking your help for those in need here in Louisiana. This is my plea:
Louisiana HOSA is asking every HOSA member to make a Contribution
to help those in need from the hurricane. If students interested would give their contribution to their advisor, the advisor can send a check to my office to be distributed to specific nonprofits, and also go directly to helping the affected families buy personal supplies, health needs, clothing, etc. or you can send the money directly. Funds will be used in the parish where the HOSA chapter was displaced, and will also benefit the families in that school who were directly affected, including fellow HOSA members and the HOSA Chapter Advisor.
This need is not going to go away in the coming days as the water recedes; the need for help will remain for a long time. Chapters could make this a great service project as well by holding a change collection or other event, in addition to their dollar, to raise some much needed funds for this devastated area.
TOGETHER WE CAN ALL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE!
Please submit the following information with contribution.
Project Hurricane Isaac Relief
Please submit your checks by the end of September or as soon as possible:
State: ________________________
Chapter/School Name: ______________________________
Advisor Name: __________________________
Advisor Email: __________________________
Amount of Contribution: _________________
Make Check to: SWLAHEC
Mail to: SWLAHEC/Hurrican Relief
103 Independence Blvd.
Lafayette, LA 70506
Thank you from Louisiana!
Shirlene Bender
Louisiana State Advisor
students2@swlahec.com
337-989-0001
