| We skipped Giving Tuesday because we didn’t want to deflect even a nickel from organizations fighting hunger and homelessness caused by the pandemic and recession. And we’re not asking for your money now, either. But lots of our environmental justice communities are struggling with both the pandemic and the impacts of flooding and climate change. So, it would be great if you helped them directly. All 51 of our Higher Ground members (we’re the largest flood survivor network in the country) need your support. Some have particularly acute needs, so we’re highlighting them: A Community Voice based in New Orleans, LA is led by low to moderate income African American community leaders fighting for social and environmental justice. Beth Butler is their Executive Director. She wrote to us: We are beside ourselves with our losses -- a major ally and friend has now passed on, and we have whole families with the virus. We continue daily calls to our members to try and get resources to them, and hold weekly conference calls to get updates and share information. Every day we have leaders with compromised health handing out free meals, and fighting utility cut-offs. A Community Voice is also starting to establish comunity vegetable gardens to overcome shortages and provide safe, outdoor activity for people of all ages. You can donate to them here. Centreville Citizens for Change, Centerville, IL. Centerville is a predominantly African American community in Illinois that has suffered decades of government neglect. It’s the poorest city in the state and one of the poorest in the nation. They experience chronic sewer backups and regular flooding. Their priority is to pump water and sewage out of their homes and get them cleaned up so they can fight COVID-19! They’re also seeking bottled water, masks, hand sanitizer, and household cleaning items. See their information on how to donate to them at the bottom of the web page. Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition based in St. Helena Island, SC advocates for the rights of the Gullah/Geechee people, and works toward land re-acquisition and maintenance. The unique, Gullah/Geechee community is centuries-old, but is threatened by sea-level rise, flooding, development, and now the pandemic too. Queen Quet is their elected chieftess. She told us: Gullah/Geechees were already struggling to pay land taxes which were due in January, when COVID-19 became a pandemic and shut down all tourism. Now recent flooding has destroyed many of the crops that our subsistence farmers rely upon. The Coalition is seeking funds to distributed protective clothing, masks and seeds to farmers. You can donate to them here.
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