Sheriffs' offices in Northwest Georgia are taking donations for the relief effort in East Baton Rouge, La.
The effort, spearheaded by Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston, is aimed at getting supplies to the families of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office staff. According to a news release from Gordon County, more than 180 families of officers have been displaced by the massive flooding.
In particular, the Georgia sheriffs' offices are looking for donations of clothes, shoes and toiletries. The offices can't accept used clothes, according to the release.
Donations can be made at the Gordon County Sheriff's Office on Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m. Or donations can be left at local sheriff's offices.
"Sheriff Ralston encourages everyone to join in this relief effort," Gordon County said in a release. "The supplies will be transported as soon as the trailer is filled."
Catoosa County Sheriff Gary Sisk said local residents can leave items at his office, if that is easier than driving down to Gordon County. There is no set deadline for taking donations. The plan is to take donations until Gordon County's trailer is full. Then someone will drive it to Louisiana.
Sisk said Ralston has been in contact with the sheriff's office in Louisiana and realized there was a need to help officers' families.
"All of them down there are having to deal with this," Sisk said, "along with the citizens. And yet, emergency workers are the ones responding. We just want to make sure they get taken care of, as well."
Earlier this month, Louisiana was flooded as more than 20 inches of rain fell over three days. A vice president of the Red Cross has called the storm the worst in the America since Superstorm Sandy in New Jersey. At least 13 people have died across five parishes, according to news reports.
Contact staff writer Tyler Jett at 423-757-6476 or tjett@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @LetsJett.