One more summer on the books and as we turn to fall, we reflect on yet another devastating storm in the Gulf of Mexico. Early reports out of Florida reflect a reality we have too often seen with our own eyes here in Louisiana.  

The recovery for our friends, family, and colleagues in Florida will be long and difficult and our thoughts are with them. If you are able, please consider donating or sharing these fantastic resources helping communities on the ground in Florida, Puerto Rico and Cuba.  
 

Ways to help in Florida: 

Anyone who wants to help with recovery efforts, Collier County recommends these organizations: Collier Community Foundation (239) 649-5000; United Way (239) 261-7112; American Red Cross (800) 733-2767; The Salvation Army (239) 775-9447. 
Other ways to help include donating blood: nchmd.org/services/blood-center/  
And volunteering through credible relief organizations: volunteerflorida.org/ 
Donate to the Florida Disaster Fund: https://www.volunteerflorida.org/donatefdf/ 
 

Ways to help Cuba: 

Donate to Give to Cuba: https://www.classy.org/ 
Donate to The People's Forum: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/
Donate to Direct Relief: https://donate.directrelief.org/give/406660/

Ways to help in Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic: 

Donate to the Hispanic Federation: https://www.hispanicfederation.org/fionahelp/ 
Donate to Project Hope: https://secure.projecthope.org/
Other resources: https://www.npr.org/2022/09/20/1123971208/puerto-rico-hurricane-fiona-how-to-help 

Priority Project Highlight 

This is a big year for one of Louisiana’s cornerstone coastal restoration projects: the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. This project released its Final Environmental Impact Study (FEIS) on September 23rd and we look forward to the official Record of Decision on the project’s permit before the close of the year! Learn more about this project on our website and keep an eye out for more information as we reach these important milestones for the restoration and sustainability of our coast!  
 

Read the FEIS | Watch John Snell's Report on Fox 8 | Read Halle Parker's Coverage on WWNO

Spotlight: CRCL - Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana 

CRCL is ramping up for this busy time of the year!  With cooler weather comes our swamp habitat and dune beach restoration events. We are kicking off our Fall cohort of our Future Coastal Leaders college track, and there’s still time to enroll. We have ongoing volunteer events in support of our oyster shell recycling program to restore living shorelines. We are blessed for the great support that we have from local foundations, like Meraux, as well as amazing volunteers and supporters who show up time and time again! This picture encapsulates the spirit and commitment of our volunteers. 

Al DuVernay III is one of CRCL’s supporters, a Coastal Advisory Committee member, and a stellar volunteer. He steps up to the challenge of fighting coastal land loss in every way he can. Seen here, Al is explaining the plight of wetland loss resulting from the leveeing of the Mississippi River to a group of high school and college students that were engaged in a full-day field trip and volunteer experience as part of CRCL’s Future Coastal Leaders initiative. The students and AL are helping to prepare oyster shell for an upcoming living shoreline protection project. The trip included stops at other key locations for coastal restoration and a site visit to Meraux Foundation’s Docville Farm.