Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from Louisiana and Mississippi, USA. The tornado that swept through the US state of Mississippi on Saturday, April 24 left a path of devastation 150 miles long and up to 1.5 miles wide, costing 10 lives, including three children.
Dozens more people were injured, some critically, as buildings were shattered into debris, and power lines and trees were downed. The same tornado also destroyed more than a dozen houses in neighboring Louisiana. Conveying her love and sorrowful prayers, Supreme Master Ching Hai asked that our Association members go to see if help was needed as she donated US$5,710 in emergency aid.
Covering their own travel and related expenses of US$500, our Association’s relief teams from Texas and Arkansas drove to Talullah Port, Louisiana and Yazoo County, Mississippi, two of the hardest-hit areas.
As assistance had been organized by both the federal and Mississippi state governments as well as non-governmental aid groups, our Association’s relief team brought packages of useful emergency supplies including water, vegan canned food and vegan pet food, sleeping bags, tarps, flashlights, blankets, and sanitary items such as baby wipes and soap.
In cooperation with local officials, the packages, which also included SOS flyers, were given both to relief distribution centers and directly to the tornado victims, who warmly expressed their thanks, saying that they felt hopeful despite the trauma and losses.
Mississippi, USA (F): I would like to thank the Supreme Master Ching Hai for the donations that you’ve given to us, and for your love and consideration for this community in this time of disaster.
VOICE: We thank all government personnel and aid groups who are helping the tornado victims. Our gratefulness as well to Supreme Master Ching Hai for her swift and unconditional support, and to our Association’s relief team for their caring help. May the Providence watch over the American people in recovering their day-to-day lives as we pray that our more benevolent stewardship on Earth helps ease such extreme events as these.
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