Hey there,

I wanted to make sure you saw Cecilia’s email.

When Hurricane Katrina made landfall 15 years ago, my daughter Jamilla and I went to the Coast to help. We witnessed the devastation firsthand. Hundreds of Mississippians died, and thousands more were displaced — hurting Black and underserved communities most of all.

But we also saw how Americans came together, in desperate times of need, to help one another. I know we must do that again in 2020. That’s why I’m asking for your support for Hurricane Laura relief now.

Please consider donating $10, or whatever you can, to the Galveston County Food Bank and the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana to help our Gulf Coast neighbors.

Thanks for all you do.

— Mike

---------- Forwarded message ---------
Sender: Cecilia Criddle
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020
Subject: Fwd: Help with Hurricane Laura relief

Hi there,

Normally you get emails from me with finance updates, but today I’m asking for your support for Hurricane Laura relief.

Last week, Hurricane Laura slammed into the Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi coasts as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 150 mph. The National Weather Service described the storm surge as "unsurvivable."

So many on the Mississippi Gulf Coast know what our neighbors in Louisiana and Texas are going through right now. Watching news coverage of Hurricane Laura reminds me of evacuating from Hurricane Katrina — which made landfall 15 years ago last week — and waiting in a hotel room with my family to hear whether our house was still standing.

So many Mississippians know the pain of being displaced by or of losing friends and family to hurricanes.

But so many Mississippians also remember the generosity of others in the aftermath of the storms that have devastated our state.

I am proud that Team Espy is bonding together to carry that generosity forward by supporting the Galveston County Food Bank and the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana: Two charities that provide food, shelter, medicine, and other necessities to help stabilize those in most immediate need.

In all seriousness, recovery from the storm of this magnitude could take years. Will you consider making donation of just $10 to support Hurricane Laura efforts?

Stay safe, and thanks for all you do,

Cecilia Criddle Finance Director Espy for Senate