Mourning, Resilience and Giving Back in New Orleans

IT WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS AGO that I shared with you the glee as Taylor Swift fans filled the French Quarter with excitement, laughter, and music. It was a time of celebration and a reminder of why people are drawn to New Orleans, fall in love with her spirit, and her people, and why New Orleans is unlike anywhere else in the world.

But now, we grieve.

What happened in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day was shocking and devastating. Some things are too heavy for words, and this is one of them. As we watched the developing saga grow more tragic, the pervasive sadness left many with no words but much sorrow.

Our city has always opened her arms to the world in celebration, but now she carries the scars of unthinkable violence. We mourn for those whose lives have been forever changed. We pray for the victims and their families, hoping they find comfort in the embrace of a community that stands with them. To those hurting, we see you. To those lost, we share your despair. And to those who embrace New Orleans and her gentle and fun spirit, we will continue celebrating with her—because that is in our hearts and our DNA.

New Orleans has always been a place of resilience, never letting darkness define her or her people. This fact holds true in the wake of this tragedy, as New Orleanians are moved with a desire to help.

Several organizations have established vetted fundraisers for those affected by the New Year’s Day Attack.

The Greater New Orleans Foundation

The Greater New Orleans Foundation, serving 13 metro parishes, has formed a volunteer group to oversee donations from the New Year’s Day Tragedy Fund. They’ll hold a public meeting on January 27 for community input and are partnering with the Mass Violence Survivors Fund to ensure aid reaches attack survivors.

For more information on this initiative, go to gnof.org.

United Way New Orleans

The United for New Orleans Relief Fund provides crucial support to those affected by the New Year’s Day attack. Funds have been distributed to trusted local organizations to ensure survivors receive the help they need:

$25,000 to 504HealthNet’s Healthy Hospitality Initiative for mental health counseling and support services.

$7,500 to Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) to offer free legal aid, including benefits assistance, estate planning, and eviction defense.

$10,000 to Seeds of NOLA Trauma Recovery Center at University Medical Center, providing care and support for victims of violent crime.

For donations and resources, go to UnitedWaySELA. org/UnitedforNOLA instagram.com/unitedwaysela