LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) - In the midst of grieving the loss of five family members, Minnesota radio host, talk show host and children’s book author Sheletta Brundidge gave away books and toys to kids impacted by hurricanes Laura and Delta at Calcasieu Central Library in Lake Charles.
The drive-thru book and toy drive was held last Friday. The citizens of Lake Charles eagerly lined up at the library before the event started and all books and toys were distributed successfully.
Brundidge, 48, of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, lost five family members all at once due to carbon monoxide poisoning in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. In her grief, she decided to give back to the community that helped shape the lives of her lost loved ones. Brundidge spoke about the impact Hurricane Laura had on her family in her podcast Laughing with Letta.
Brundidge was inspired by her Aunt Rosalie Lewis, who was one of the five family members that died during Hurricane Laura. Her aunt had a larger than life personality. When Rosa walked in a room, everyone knew she was there, Brundidge said.
Brundidge modeled herself after her aunt. One of the things she loved most about her aunt was that she was a giver and did so much for the community of Lake Charles.
Rosa always encouraged her family to add value to other people’s lives, Brundidge said. She was unable to attend her family members funeral, so Brundidge and her family decided to take a days long trip down to Lake Charles to grieve and pay respects to their family.
“I heard my aunt’s voice and in my spirit and she said ’don’t go down there and grieve for me; go down there and give,” Brundidge said.
Brundidge was unsure of what she had to give the community of Lake Charles, but knew she had to do something big to make sure her presence was felt. She wanted to bring her Aunt Rosa’s spirit of love, life and laughter back to Lake Charles.
Brundidge thought of her books. She wrote a children’s book titled, “Cameron Goes to School.” The book is written about her daughter’s courageous start to kindergarten as a child with autism and is a best seller on Amazon.
Brundidge is a new author and plans to release a book yearly for Autism Awareness Month about each of her children. Brundidge has four children, three with autism.
Brundidge donated 500 copies of her book. She is hoping her book will inspire the same bravery in the children of Lake Charles, facing the struggles created by the most recent hurricanes.
Brundidge, with the help of her publisher, enlisted donations from eight other Minnesota children’s book authors, which made her book drive bigger than she initially imagined.
The Calcasieu Library was damaged during Hurricane Laura and was in need of books. The library was closed for a while and the toy drive was held in the parking lot to let the community know they were once again open.
The Calcasieu Parish Public Library, in a Facebook post, gave big thanks to Sheletta Brundidge and all of the Minnesota authors. The library thanked everyone who came out to the book giveaway and hoped it put a smile on their community’s face.
All of the Calcasieu Parish Public Libraries was set to open on Monday, Oct.19, with the exception of the Moss Bluff, Fontenot Memorial and Epps Memorial locations. These branches received heavy damage in the hurricanes and will open on an unknown later date. Early voting is still taking place at the Moss Bluff Library starting Friday, Oct. 16 despite the branch being closed for damage.
Manhattan Toy Company, a Minnesota toy maker, found out about Brundidge’s plans to have a book drive. The toy company came to Brundidge and told her, “kids love to read, but they really need a toy.” The toy company donated 500 of their toys.
She wanted to cry, Brundidge said. These are nice-sized stuffed animals, children who have lost everything can love and cuddle. She is coming to bring, not only books and toys to Lake Charles, but love.
Brundidge wants the children of Lake Charles to read a story about a little girl who may look like them and see how the little girl overcame her struggle. She wants them to realize that they can too. She hopes the toys will help the kids not to feel alone or scared.
“The thing about being a parent is if you see your child smile, it makes everything OK for you,” Brundidge said. “So I know if make the child happy, the parents are going to have some relief as well.”
She is coming to help and give in a big way, Brundidge said. She is the ambassador of her aunt’s legacy and one of her aunt’s mottos was “go big or go home.”
“I’m coming home to Lake Charles to go big and to help and bless as many children as I can and thereby being a blessing to those families,” Brundidge said. She couldn’t see a better way to bless the children. The residents of Lake Charles still need help and Brundidge wants to shine a spotlight on that.
“Folks are still pulling up carpet, folks are still trying to figure out if their kids are going to be able to go to school, folks are still figuring out where they’re going to work and if they’re going to rebuild or just leave it all behind,” Brundidge said. “These are not people that are foreign to me. These are my friends, my former co-workers, my cousins, my aunts and uncles, so I have a personal connection to Lake Charles.”
Brundidge went to Lake Charles not only to provide a blessing, but check on the ones she loves to let them know it’s going to be alright.
It takes one person to start a movement and Brundidge is hoping her act of kindness can inspire others with a gift or skill to do the same. Everybody has a special gift they can bring down to Lake Charles, Brundidge said.
She packed the books, the toys and her family into a new RV, her children named The Brundidge Bus, and drove to Lake Charles.
“It came together too easy and that’s how you know God’s hands were on everything,” Brundidge said.
Brundidge documented her entire journey. More details about the event and her movement can be found at SHElettaMakesMeLaugh.com .
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