Our team encountered Mr. Billiot, a 69-year old resident, trying to tarp his home, to no avail, prior to Hurricane Ike’s landfall.  Mr. Billiot has lived in the Isle de Jean Charles community, near Montegut, Louisiana, his entire life.  When asked if he needed help, he asked, "How much will it cost?" The answer: "What if we told you it's free?"

While the Houston/Galveston area staggers to its feet under the watchful eye of our media, it is easy to forget “the least of these” among us; their story and plight are far from the headlines. 
 
Hope Force International responded immediately to the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast in the wakes of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, identifying Chauvin, Louisiana, as the location where we have focused our ongoing efforts.   In fact, until recently, HFI has been the only organization offering assistance in this small community.

To date, we have helped over 100 households in the Chauvin, LA area by placing blue tarps on roofs (helping to minimize continuing water damage), distributing tarps to those able to do the job themselves, and large tree removal (where some residents were actually trapped in their homes). 

Our team served to sandbag overflowing levees when the onslaught of Hurricane Ike hit, and has subsequently served to muck out homes and clean up the damage caused by flooding.  We are working closely with local authorities to identify and qualify those in need in an attempt to prioritize our efforts. 

One area we worked in was the Isle de Jean Charles community, populated by people who have lived here for many generations -- comprised of Cajun and Native Americans.  In this remote area, there was no evidence of other agencies present.  This was brought to our attention by a member of a Wall Street Journal media team that we encountered while we were serving the people of this community.   In fact, articles generated during our encounter with the media team have appeared September 17 and 18 in the WSJ.  

We have an amazing opportunity to impact this overlooked area with God’s love and compassion, exhibited through acts of kindness to those in real need.  In order to do so, we need your financial support, which will enable us to conduct further assessments, support our team, purchase fuel, food and supplies as well as help to help cover operating costs.  We are grateful to those who have already given generously -- thus, enabling Hope Force to respond quickly to the cry for help.

Will you please prayerfully consider a financial contribution as we work to rekindle hope and extend comfort to those beaten down by such difficult circumstances?