After historic flooding in Baton Rouge and neighboring cities, volunteerism through time, support and supplies is strong for flood victims. Large facilities, such as Celtic Studios, several BREC properties and local churches, have housed people since Friday, Aug. 12.
For those in dire need of necessities like food and water, Baton Rouge food establishments stepped up to the plate and instigated flood relief plans of their own, using these past few days to feed evacuees and collect donations.
This story is not meant to be comprehensive but to highlight some of the relief efforts from local establishments.
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At the Overpass Merchant, all weekly lunch plates are $5 with the donation of non-perishable foods, pet food, diapers, blankets, cleaning supplies or clothing. Anyone directly impacted by the flood is invited to the restaurant for free lunch or dinner.
Additionally, the restaurant is also involved in planning a large-scale charity event for Saturday, Aug. 20. “Fundraising Under the Overpass” will offer attendees beer and all-you-can-eat food from multiple restaurants for a flat fee. For $25 dollars and a donation (of bedding, clothes, toiletries, water bottles, etc.), diners can try food from restaurants including The Overpass Merchant, Barcadia, Ivar’s Sports Bar, The Cajun Spoon, The Kolache Kitchen, Barbosa’s Barbecue, Robear Lane, Jax Brewhouse, Pelican House and Galatoire’s Bistro, as well as beer from regional breweries. Stay tuned to the event’s Facebook page for updates.
Waitr, the delivery app and service that partners with community restaurants, has set up donation drop-off stations at Walk On’s Bistreaux & Bar at 3838 Burbank Drive. Donations will be accepted through 7 p.m. Wednesday. Any donations will help, but Waitr is specifically looking for blankets, pillows, toothpaste, shampoo, soaps and feminine products.
The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank is accepting cash donations as it assesses four feet of water damage to its headquarters. The food bank will use those donations to first buy supplies directly for victims and then to begin replenishing its stock of non-perishable foods lost in the flood.
Mercy Chefs, a national faith-based disaster relief non-profit, is taking monetary donations here to help offset the cost of preparing thousands of meals for flood victims. The organization deployed workers and volunteers from its Dallas location Aug. 14 and has since cooked more than 7,000 meals per day.
Several restaurants are serving as donation drop-off points, donating money from sales or offering incentives for customers to bring donations.
Tin Roof Brewing is collecting donations in the form of bottled water, clothing, baby supplies, pet supplies, toiletries, and canned and dry foods. Additionally, the brewery donated $1 from every pint purchased from 5-8 p.m. on Monday to flood relief. They are continuing their fundraising efforts Wednesday, Aug. 17, with 20% of sales 5-9 p.m. going to victims.
Chef Danny Wilson of Brickyard South is operating with limited business hours while he helps sort and distribute supplies at relief shelters. When open, the bar is serving as a drop-off point for donations of all sorts.
Restaurant IPO donated 15 percent of sales Tuesday to first responders in the area.
Tio Javi’s is serving as a donation drop-off location and pre-sorting and delivering donations to shelters and evacuees in hotels on Constitution Avenue near the restaurant. The restaurant is also donating proceeds from some liquor sales courtesy of donations from Avion Tequila to buy toiletries for flood victims.
Ivar’s Sports Bar is collecting donations and offering patrons a free “purple rain” shot for any donation. Avion Tequila and Jameson also donated bottles to Ivar’s, which will sell some drinks in an effort to raise additional money. Ivar’s is looking specifically for underwear, socks, diapers, Benadryl, shoes, hygiene products, insect repellent, sunscreen and baby wipes.
Some establishments, such as Fresh Kitchen and Bergeron’s City Market, are simply stocking their shelves with more pre-made breakfasts, lunches and dinners than usual in an effort to offset the lack of inventory at some area grocery stores.
Other restaurants spent the days post-flood preparing and delivering hot meals of their own to evacuation centers. Rice & Roux, one of few spared establishments in the O’Neal Lane area, delivered pots of jambalaya to Celtic Studios; Goyaya’s Crepes prepared hot meals and large buckets of iced tea to take to multiple shelters; Barbosa’s Barbecue teamed up with City Pork Deli & Charcuterie, Galen Iverstine of Iverstine Family Farms and Jay Ducote of Bite & Booze to prepare food at the state police headquarters for first responders.
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City Pork Deli & Charcuterie is also serving as a drop-off station for donations, and City Pork Kitchen & Pie teamed up with Woodlawn High School and Barbosa’s Barbecue to provide lunches to flood victims Tuesday.
The response from the Baton Rouge community has been overwhelmingly supportive, but there is always room to help. Consider dropping items at one of the many donation stations around the city, donating money to Mercy Chefs, Red Cross or other relief organizations or registering as a volunteer with Red Cross.
Know of a restaurant or food establishment helping out that we missed? Tell us about it in the comments or email [email protected].