How young Republicans and Democrats are coming together to help Louisiana flood victims.
'After all, Southern hospitality knows no political affiliation.'
Between the presidential election and a recent streak of natural disasters, both political and environmental climates have been rather nasty so far in 2016.
It's almost as though the environment has been responding to all the political dissonance, from relentless raging fires in California to historic flooding in West Virginia, Maryland, and now southern Louisiana.
Leslie Andermann Gallagher surveys the flood damage to her home. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images.
Louisianans are not recovering alone, though — they have help, thanks to a rather unlikely bipartisan effort.
The Texas Young Republicans and Young Democrats have set differing political views aside to unite and help their neighboring state of Louisiana.
The plan is a simple: they've set up an Amazon wish list for those displaced by the flooding. Anyone wanting to help can choose items from the list and send them to this address at checkout:
Scott’s Drum Center, C/O Flood Relief 4956 Johnston St, Lafayette, LA 70503.
Once the Louisiana teams on the ground receive the supplies, they distribute them to the families in need.
The Arkansas Young Republicans started the effort. When the Texas Young Republicans decided to lend a hand, the Texas Young Democrats reached out to president of the TYRs, John Baucum, to see if they could be of service.
Photo by Brian Smialowski/Getty Images.
According to TYD Communications Director Chelsea Roe, both groups have been working together in perfect bipartisan harmony since day one of the collaboration.
Roe believes being a younger generation is one reason why their cooperative efforts are working so well.
"We understand that a diversification of ideas is what makes us better as a human race," she said over email. "At the end of it all, that's what we have in common — we want to leave this world we live in a better place than it was when we came into it."
Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images.
Baucum expressed similar sentiments to the Dallas Morning News: "At the end of the day, we all live and work together."
Our country might be divided when it comes to political beliefs, but in the face of a crisis, it's wonderful to see people putting those differences aside for the greater good.