Media Contact: Melissa Duplantier
Telephone: 504-881-9090
melissa.duplantier2@redcross.org

NEW ORLEANS — The American Red Cross of Louisiana is joining forces with Jefferson Community Foundation to help Jefferson Parish residents better prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.

This grant will strengthen the local impact of the Red Cross by supporting vital disaster relief services in Jefferson Parish. The size of the grant will make a tremendous impact — covering the cost of 3,500 hot meals for disaster-affected families.

“The Jefferson Community Foundation is proud to support the American Red Cross, whose dedicated volunteers bring hope and critical relief to our neighbors in need every day,” said Christine Briede, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jefferson Community Foundation. “Together, we are enhancing disaster resiliency in Jefferson Parish and equipping our residents with lifesaving resources before, during and after emergencies.”

Last year, the Red Cross responded to 80+ disasters in Jefferson Parish alone, most of them home fires, and provided more than 450 individuals with immediate financial relief and recovery support. This included more than $109,000 in financial assistance to Jefferson Parish residents affected by fires, tornadoes, floods and larger disasters like Hurricane Francine that impacted coastal communities last September.

“The Red Cross has long had the privilege of supporting the residents of Jefferson Parish,” said Dr. Kenneth St. Charles, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Louisiana. “This generous grant from the Jefferson Community Foundation will help us continue to provide services that save lives and offer hope when our neighbors in Jefferson Parish need it most.”

The American Red Cross has delivered more than $2 million in disaster relief to Jefferson Parish since July 2021, including more than 2,700 overnight shelter stays, 124,000 meals and nearly $500,000 in direct recovery assistance to Jefferson Parish families following Hurricane Ida.

Beyond disaster relief, the Red Cross also serves Jefferson Parish through lifesaving First Aid/CPR courses and year-round preparedness programs including the Home Fire Campaign, which works to make homes safer from the nation’s most frequent disaster, and Prepare with Pedro, a youth program that teaches children how to take action during emergencies.

“This grant reflects our shared commitment to helping Jefferson Parish residents prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters of all kinds—from home fires to hurricanes. The Jefferson Community Foundation is honored to partner with the American Red Cross, whose dedicated network of volunteers and partners consistently shows up for our community in times of crisis, offering comfort, care, and critical support when it’s needed most,” said Dr. Shondra Williams, Jefferson Community Foundation Board Chairman.

The Red Cross responds to more than 65,000 disasters across the country every year, providing comfort and hope in times of crisis. As rapidly intensifying storms, extreme heat, record floods and widespread wildfires continue to devastate communities across the country, a partnership with Jefferson Community Foundation is more important than ever to power nonstop Red Cross relief efforts.

About the Jefferson Community Foundation:
Jefferson Community Foundation (JCF) is the nonprofit, community foundation for Jefferson Parish dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents, visitors and businesses in Jefferson Parish by focusing on the needs of the community and power of philanthropy.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.