Acting much like a grassroots United Way, Shreveport-Bossier City has another charity on board, aimed at helping citizens and four-legged friends.
Charitable Hearts Association of Shreveport, a newly-formed community based not-for-profit, volunteers work to promote and support philanthropy. Its four beneficiaries are the Humane Society of NWLA, Providence House, Caddo Counsel on Aging and The Philadelphia Center, located in Highland. Broadmoor resident Melissa Shepherd, 2008-09 CHAOS president, said the organization &mdash consisting of co-workers, friends and family &mdash got started helping local krewes. “And that’s great because they do a lot of service work, but they do a lot with their balls,” she said. “We wanted to focus solely on the charity stuff. We got started because we wanted to help, and we thought it would be easier if you had friends doing it with you. If you can get together for lunch, you can give back, it’s as simple as that.” Shepherd said by pooling their time and talents, members could better serve the community in their support of local charities. “And we knew it would be chaotic, and it has been.” Up-and-running since September, after organizing in August, the approximately 25 CHAOS members have already collected 144 pounds of food for the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, donated food to the Philadelphia Center pantry, collected clothing donations, hosted a blood drive for LifeShare and collected toys for the Shoebox Ministry at Christmas. Now, CHAOS is looking to make its first Winter Soiree Fire and Ice Carnivale on Friday at Rodeway Inn and Suites in Bossier City a success. As listed in its bylaws, Shepherd said CHAOS hopes to have four major fundraising events.
“At the end-of-the-year event in October, we will take the money raised and divide it amongst the four charities and invite a representative and present the checks,” Shepherd said.