Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
WGNO
New Orleans’ Common Ground Relief searching for stolen boat
By Ashley Hamilton,
8 hours ago
NEW ORLEANS ( WGNO ) — On a normal Saturday morning, you can catch those with Common Ground Relief working to solve food insecurity plaguing its neighborhood in the lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans.
“We focus on serving fresh produce, baked items and dry goods, as well as canned items and storm prep supplies throughout hurricane season,” said Executive Director of Common Ground Relief Christina Lehew.
Yet, it’s most known for the rebuilding and restoring of homes, communities and surrounding wetlands.
“Each year we work with students and volunteers to plant around 5,000 native trees and 20,000 to 40,000 plugs of native marsh grass across a 12-parish region,” said Lehew.
This is why the organization was sad to see its brand-new mudbug boat stolen from its property just a couple of days after buying it.
“To lose it immediately before we could get it insured is a devastating loss. We really thrive when we are a two-boat option. It’s safer for running logistics and transporting people and plants to our planting site,” said Lehew.
She explains how the boat ensures everyone stays safe while doing coastal restoration work, as the boat is made specifically for shallow water.
“When we have years like a drought year like we did in 2023, the water levels could be so low it could be challenging to reach our restoration sites in a traditional way,” said Lehew.
While they continue to spread the word in hopes of getting it back, the New Orleans Police Department is searching for leads.
“We do have detectives that are reviewing surrounding camera footage and are actively searching for the boat. We also have an amazingly supportive network of volunteers and friends and family keeping an eye out,” said Lehew
Anyone with information about the stolen boat can call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.
Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter .
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Most Popular
Comments / 0