Meghan Linsey Raising Funds, Collecting Supplies for Louisiana Flood Victims
Louisiana native Meghan Linsey is calling on her fans to help her home state following devastating floods. The singer is raising funds and collecting supplies to help those affected, and she will be heading home in the coming days to help with the relief efforts.
Due to heavy rains that began last Thursday (Aug. 11) and have dumped more than two and a half feet of water onto various areas of the state of Louisiana, at least 13 people have died and around 40,000 homes have been damaged, according to Reuters; the news organization reports that the American Red Cross is calling the flooding the worst U.S. disaster since 2012's Super Storm Sandy. Among the affected areas is Linsey's hometown of Ponchatoula, located in Tangipahoa Parish, just north of Lake Pontchartrain.
"I have personal friends who are without basic needs," Linsey writes on a GoFundMe, set up on Monday (Aug. 15) by the former The Voice contestant, her mother, a friend still living in Potchatoula, The Voice winner Sawyer Fredericks and his mother. "It's completely unbelievable and beyond sad.
"[We want] to raise as much money as possible and to make sure that it goes directly to victims and their families and back into the local community where I am
from," Linsey continues, later explaining, "Most families don't have access to kitchens, and all of them will be cleaning out and rebuilding their homes. Therefore, our idea is to use the money to buy gift cards to local restaurants and local hardware stores and distribute them to families. We will also use it to hire local carpenters. That way, we are keeping the money in the local community, helping to rebuild the local economy and helping the flood victims, all at the same time."
As of 8AM ET on Thursday morning (Aug. 18), more than $2,500 has been raised, with a set goal of $100,000.
According to a press email, Linsey has also rented a U-Haul and will be filling the truck with donated supplies, then driving it to Ponchatoula to deliver the collection. Items needed include cleaning supplies, mops and contractor-sized trash bags, for cleanup efforts; clothing, bedding and towels, toiletries and food and water, for those affected; and pet food, leashes and pet bedding, for the local animal shelters to help lost or injured animals.
Linsey's U-Haul will be stationed at Pennington Entertainment, located at 2451 Atrium Way in Nashville, on Thursday from 9AM until 5PM.
Since her time on Season 8 of The Voice, Linsey -- formerly one-half of Steel Magnolia -- has released an EP, Believer, and is working on writing and recording more new music. She recently told The Boot that she hoped to have some new songs out "before the end of the year."
"It’s definitely got a little more of a pop edge to it," Linsey adds, "but I always stay true to my roots and put a little soul edge into everything I do.”