BATON ROUGE — In the aftermath of recent devastation from Hurricane Helene in Tennessee, an effort is underway to help children. Kelly Angelle, a dedicated member of Cajun Navy 2016 and a pilot with Cajun Airlift, is spearheading the heartfelt effort to bring hope and relief to children affected by hurricane Helene’s destruction. Angelle is rallying communities to organize a letter-writing and supply drive, focusing on sending care and kindness from local schools to those impacted by the disaster.
With schools playing a central role, students have been actively engaged in writing letters of encouragement and painting inspirational messages on rocks, which will be sent to children in Louisiana.
“There’s one group of high schoolers that painted some little rocks with inspirational messages on it,” she said.
But the effort doesn’t stop there—students are also stuffing backpacks with essential school supplies, hoping to bring a sense of normalcy and comfort to those whose lives have been upended.
“We’re also doing a project of stuffing the backpacks and sending school supplies over to them,” she added.
To help distribute the donations, Angelle is working with a teacher in North Carolina, who will ensure that the backpacks and heartfelt messages reach children in need. And in a personal show of dedication, Angelle is using her piloting skills to fly some of the donations herself.
“She’s working on that with me, I’m going to get them to her, and she’s going to distribute them on her end,” she said.
At present, the project is focused on schools and individuals in North Carolina, but Kelly envisions a possibility of expanding the effort to other areas in the near future as more communities face the growing threat of storms.
“This is about more than just supplies,” Kelly said. “It’s about showing these kids that people care—that even though the storms have taken so much, they haven’t taken away hope.”
For those interested in getting involved, whether schools or individuals, Cajun Airlift is looking for volunteers who would like to participate in projects like letter-writing, rock painting, or gathering supplies. Schools can coordinate class projects, and individuals can offer their help, too.
Anyone who would like to be a part of the compassionate initiative can reach out to Cajun Airlift through their Facebook page. As Angelle continues to fly with a mission of mercy, she hopes to remind these children—and all who face hardships—that they are never alone.
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