Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Members of the Mississippi State Bulldog family and Starkville community are joining forces to help thousands affected by recent widespread flooding in south Louisiana and parts of Mississippi.

Among those at Mississippi State who are leading flood relief efforts is Assistant Professor of Communication Skye Cooley, a native of Denham Springs, Louisiana. While his parents’ house has not been affected by water due to elevation, his brother’s home and those of several friends are completely inundated.

According to Cooley, the worst flood was recorded in Louisiana at 14.5 feet in 1983. The water recently has risen to 17.5 feet, he said. 

Along with fellow MSU Assistant Professor of Communication Melanie Loehwing, Cooley is overseeing a supply donation that will assist flood victims in his hometown—located east of Baton Rouge—as well as surrounding areas.

Weather permitting, Cooley is planning on delivering items this weekend with help from MSU doctoral student Nate Philips.  

For those who are able to make a donation by Friday afternoon [Aug. 18], Cooley is seeking the following items that may be dropped off outside of McComas Hall, Room 005: diapers, toilet paper, paper towels, water bottles, canned goods, mosquito repellant, disinfecting wipes, trash bags, bleach, demolition tools for rebuilding, shovels and box cutters.

Jessica Perkins Smith, MSU Libraries manuscripts archivist, said she and her family also have friends, former classmates and co-workers who have lost everything due to the devastating flooding.

“Because the water came up so fast, in many cases people were able to get out of their houses by boat with only the clothes on their backs. If you are inclined to help, there are many ways to do so. If you’ve already helped, thank you,” she said.

Smith said Emilie Robinson, a friend of hers who lives in Baton Rouge, has put together an Amazon wish list of items that are needed. Robinson and her husband’s home did not flood, but they will distribute the items at a nearby large shelter, as well as their son’s preschool. The wish list may be found online at http://tinyurl.com/BatonRougeFloodAmazonWishList.

In addition, Smith said the Junior League of New Orleans is collecting diapers (sizes newborn-5), as well as $20 Walmart and Target gift cards to be distributed at shelters in the Baton Rouge and Lafayette areas. Those donations can be sent to: Junior League of New Orleans Headquarters, 4319 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, LA 70115. Cash donations also are being accepted via https://www.jlno.org/louisiana-flood-relief/.

Smith said those interested in donating diapers and/or baby wipes may bring them to the Special Collections department on the third floor of Mitchell Memorial Library.

Members of MSU’s Veterinary Medical Technology Program, along with the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Student Chapter of the Disaster Animal Response Team (SCDART), are collecting a variety of items that will be donated to a shelter in Louisiana’s St. Tammany Parish. Donations of the following items may be dropped off at the collection box for the Wise Center’s Office of Academic Affairs: dog food, cat food, wet kitten food, cat litter, litter boxes, paper towels, bleach, laundry detergent, towels/blankets, dog toys, collars and leashes.

Additionally, SCDART is conducting a gift card drive. Those interested in making donations are asked to contact SCDART faculty adviser Carla Huston at huston@cvm.msstate.edu.

In the Starkville community, the Starkville Police Department is accepting donations and transporting items for both flood victims and their pets. The following is a list of items that are needed for human and animal use/rescue: bleach, paper towels, garbage bags, rubber gloves, adhesive bandages, non-perishable items, hand sanitizer, soap, batteries, flashlights, towels, pillows, sheets, blankets, clothes, socks, duct tape, tarps, zip ties, box cutters, infant formula, diapers, toddler pull-ups, baby food, adult diapers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, food for all types of animals, food buckets, food bowls, rope for larger livestock and gallon jugs of water.

The following community locations are available for drop-off:

—All Starkville Police Department locations

—Oktibbeha County Humane Society on Industrial Road

—Rick’s Café on Highway 182

—Spruill Property Management on Louisville Street

—Smith Animal Hospital on North Jackson Street

—Oktibbeha County Co-Op on Pollard Road

Officers would like to transport a load to Louisiana this weekend, so those interested in making donations are asked to do so by Saturday afternoon [Aug. 20]. For more information, contact Corporal Mandy Wilson at 662-769-4427 or Animal Control Officer Sarah Akins at 662-769-2728.

Students, faculty and staff also may bring items for the Starkville Police Department donation drive to MSU’s Maroon Volunteer Center at 306 Moseley Hall.

Meggan Franks, assistant director for student leadership and community engagement, said individuals who want to help but are unable to donate goods are encouraged to donate directly to the Red Cross, United Way or the Salvation Army.

All three agencies are working to provide goods and services to citizens in the affected regions, Franks said.

To make a donation to the United Way of South Mississippi Disaster Relief Fund, visit www.unitedwaysm.org/content/disaster-relief-fund. Mississippi Region donations also may be made online at http://www.redcross.org/local/Mississippi.

Louisiana Region donation forms are available at www.unitedwaysela.org, www.redcross.org/local/Louisiana and www.salvationarmyalm.org.

For more information on these and other MSU and Starkville-organized flood relief efforts, contact Franks at 662-648-9032 or MFranks@saffairs.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.