ERATH — Some in Acadiana are doing their part to help those affected by Hurricane Laura.
In Erath, where past hurricanes caused major damage, some consider themselves lucky after Laura, which is why one woman is now making it her mission to help out the people hit hardest by the storm.
Hannah Trahan transformed her spare bedroom into a storage room for supplies and donations.
"I had started just a little post, saying that I was going out to help my boyfriend's family because I knew that they needed gas and food and water because they were going to be out there for a little while in Cameron Parish," explained Trahan.
Since that Facebook post, Trahan has received more than $1,000 in donations, allowing her to purchase water bottles, food, toiletries and other items to help storm victims.
"When I realized how much attention it was getting and how many people started reaching out to me through Facebook Messenger for people that they contacted before they lost service... I didn't expect it to end up like how it is now," admitted Trahan.
She says while visiting devastated areas, she met a young couple who had just lost everything.
That meeting reinforced her desire to help.
"The little girl held me and told me, 'Thank you so much' as she and her boyfriend, who is 19, slept on the Papa John's [Pizza] parking lot with nothing but a bag of clothes," said Trahan. "Their trailer had nothing left. Nothing. I gave her my pillow and blanket, and she's like, 'I don't want to take from you.' I looked at her, and I said, 'You have nowhere to go with no home over your head.' I said, 'I have a roof to go to.' I said, 'God spared me, so it's my time to spare you.'"
Trahan also left them with warm food and other items she had with her.
"In that moment, in just doing that, I knew that it wasn't time for me to stop helping. Strangers... That became my family because Louisiana sticks together, and that's my drive," said Trahan.
The Erath native is still accepting donations. If you would like to help, Trahan says the best way is to send her a message via her Facebook page.
If you'd like to make a monetary donation, she's on Venmo under the username @hannahkisor5 and on Cash App under username $hannahkisor.
Trahan says she will collect supplies and deliver them to areas impacted by Laura as long as needed.
