The massive flood devastating Louisiana is now the worst natural disaster to strike the United States since Hurricane Sandy four years ago. Not only have 110,000 homes been devastated by the torrential rains, over 30,000 residents and 1,400 pets have been evacuated from the city, which has declared a ‘state of emergency’.
Volunteers from the Red Cross, the Louisiana State University, and even the Church of Scientology have been offering aid to the displaced, but it’s the BBQ cookout a couple from Louisiana put together that has recently gained recognition.
The Washington Post relays that activists Christian and Amanda Dornhorst became heroes to the displaced in Louisiana this week when they used over $2,000 of their own money to bake a scrumptious barbecue for flood victims and rescue workers in Baton Rouge.
Christian received the divinely-inspired idea at 7 a.m. Monday morning and hesitated only a second before he requested the day off. He and his wife, Amanda, then headed to SAMs club where they purchased 108 pounds of brisket – all the store had, in addition to all the chicken, hot dogs, and sausage they could carry.
The pair hauled the loot and a smoker to the Celtic Media Center in Baton Rouge where over 2,000 evacuees have taken shelter since the disaster first began. Until 7 PM, the compassionate couple cooked and served up food.
Commenting on his and his wife’s ability to provide, Christian said:
“The Lord blessed us with all of these things. There are enough people suffering here that I can do this to help.”
Because volunteers requested Christian cook for the Army, police, and Air Force personnel working disaster relief, he and his wife returned the next day with another $990 worth of food. Being an army vet himself, Christian no doubt felt inspired to give back to those who were putting their lives on the line for others.
He told The Huffington Post:
“When you hand someone a serving tray of food, it’s like handing them a hug, a smile and handshake all at once. It’s a way to say, ‘I’ve been there before,’ and ‘We’re gonna make it through this’ without saying a word.”
Once Dow, the company Christian works for, learned of their employee’s activism, they quickly offered to reimburse him for the meat. How’s that for good karma?
Neither Amanda nor Christian sought media attention for the aid they dispersed in Baton Rouge, but the public has heartily gobbled up this story – much like the evacuees in Louisiana consumed the BBQ – because it’s full of good intention and optimism.
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