Local man seeks to aid Louisiana flooding victims

Local man seeks to aid Louisiana flooding victims

Rodgers looks to be loaded up and truckin’ by Saturday

news@theeveningtimes.com

With news of 20,000 people rescued from more than 4,000 homes in historic flooding in Louisiana, local auctioneer Bo Rodgers reacted by organizing a collection for flood relief.

He ordered a semi-trailer from Coast to Coast Trucking and made arrangements to have it delivered straight to the Red Cross relief workers helping flood victims.

“James and Trina Taylor own the company and furnishing the truck,” said Rodgers. “She’s is going to take the trip and personally make sure it gets there.”

Rodgers hopes to fill the trailer by Saturday when the load is scheduled for pick up and he opened a drop point at Po’ Boys Auction, 6072 Highway 70.

The orange trailer is a bit west of the light at College Boulevard and Broadway north of the West Memphis Airport runway.

Po’ Boy Auctions helped local charities this year as well partnering with the Taylor’s charitable efforts called Miranda’s Dream team. Rodgers rounded up contributions for the 8th Street Mission at Christmas and back to school. Hope House also benefited from his auction, bake sale and weekend flea Market this past summer. Now Rodgers is counting on the same local generosity to fill a 53foot semi-trailer for neighbors in need in Louisiana.

“Imagine waking up and you are flooded out, lost everything,” said Rodgers.

“We need basic items to help people start over.”

“The Red Cross is over the relief effort and they will be disbursing it right there in Louisiana,” said Rodgers. “It’ll will be there by Wednesday.”

The Red Cross wants nice used clothing for displaced people and non-perishable food items. The first day of the collection was Tuesday and shoes, clothing, blankets, paper products, toiletries, canned soft drink, and bottled water had already been donated.

“We’ll be taking donations here this week,” said Rodgers. “Weekday hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the last day is Saturday the 20th, and we’re here from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.”

By John Rech