When a tornado devastated parts of Joplin, Mo., last month, it brought back painful memories of Hurricane Rita for one LSU student. Flashbacks of seeing his grandmother’s house 6 miles down the marsh pushed Kory Dahlen to help victims of a similiar situation.
“Do unto others as you want them to do unto you,” the construction management senior said. “I want to help these people out. I’ve been in similar situations, and people have helped me.”
Dahlen joined with South Cameron Alumni Association and Cameron Parish to show Joplin tornado victims some southern hospitality.
Members of the Cameron Parish community will travel to Joplin from June 24-26, cooking three Louisiana classics per day for around a thousand victims and relief workers. Several 20 gallon cast iron pots, which will yield a significant number of servings, have been provided. Rice, meat and trimmings for the meals have been donated by Canik’s Feed & Grocery, Kelley Mart, Southern Solid Waste and Brown’s Grocery. Utility trailers will be used to transport food and items to Joplin.
The group will make a second trip to Joplin from August 19-21 to cook for tornado victims and distribute donations.
“The culture we are going to bring up on the weekend will put a smile on their faces,” said Dahlen.
Dahlen and the Cameron community are asking students, faculty and staff to donate LSU apparel and basic necessities to assist Joplin tornado victims. School supplies, cleaning and laundry supplies, personal toiletries and new or gently used clothing will also be accepted.
“It is the small things we use on a daily basis that we take for granted,” said Dahlen. “We don’t realize how important they are until [they’re] gone.”
The group is also accepting monetary donations to purchase food and supplies. Any remaining funds will be used to purchase school supplies for August delivery.
Ryan Bourriaque, South Cameron Alumni Association President and LSU 2005 and 2008 alumnus, said donations of any amount are welcome.
“No matter what or how much the donation is, we will accept it because it results in us having more than we started, and it is more to provide to the people of Joplin,” he said.
In the short week that the account with Capital One has been set up, more than $3,000 has been received.
“This is the character of Cameron Parish residents,” said Dr. Paul Coreil, vice chancellor and director of the LSU AgCenter. Coreil lived and worked in Cameron Parish from 1978-1992 and experienced the generosity of residents.
“They have been through great hardship and are still not fully recovered,” he said. “However, they are willing to step away from the cross they are carrying and pick up another state’s.”
The Cameron community wants give back to those who helped them during Louisiana natural disasters.
“Our effort is all about simple people with a simple plan producing incredible results,” Bourriaque said. “Let’s turn Joplin purple and gold.”
Dahlen said people interested in drop off and collection information can contact him at (337) 912-2103 or email [email protected].
He said anyone wishing to make monetary donations can do so at any Capital One bank location. Donors should reference the “Joplin, Missouri Giving Back Tornado Relief Project” account.
According to a news release, all invoices and documentation of the checking account will be available for public review.
 
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Contact T.N. “King” at [email protected]