Relief Spark is a grassroots non-profit organization that was founded post Hurricane Katrina in Los Angeles, CA by Marketing and Social Networking Consultant, Sidney Ray.

Relief Spark’s Mission is to provide first response to towns and cities affected by natural disasters from hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, flooding and/or any other catastrophic disaster by sending trained CERT volunteers to the affected area to assess, gather information and distribute it on a local/state/federal level and to provide 3-months of post-disaster/recovery services that includes: relief kitchen/meals, salvaging, house gutting and demo to make way for long-term non-profit rebuilding and support organizations.

Relief Spark has been operating since 2005 in New Orleans, LA following Hurricane Katrina and levee damage that resulted in the city and surrounding parishes flooding and devastation.  Our volunteers have organized and coordinated $3,000,000 in supplies, food, water and shipped 814 pallets off these goods to LA, MS, AL and TX from Los Angeles, CA.  A few of our accomplishments include:

2006 – new orleans/st. bernard parish

• Gutted over 200 homes to prepare for rebuilding.

2007/2008 – new orleans/st. bernard parish

• Supported a network of non-profits focused on providing rebuilding services including:  environmental friendly light bulb exchange, homeless shelters/soup kitchens, pet rescue and care, children’s museum.  Non-profit partners at the time included:  Louisiana Children’s Museum, Green Light New Orleans, Dragon’s Cafe, ARNO, Beacon of Hope and Common Ground.

2009 – new orleans – treme

• We adopted “McDonogh 42″ – an elementary school that was in need of remodeling and repair.  Volunteers painted the interior and exterior, steps, walkways, landscaped the front and side yards, planted a garden, built fences and playground areas and remodeled the library.

2011/2012 – joplin, mo

• Launched a social media campaign to draw attention to the EF5 tornado disaster in Joplin, MO that resulted in the loss of 160 people utilizing Twitter and Facebook.  Made national media via Associated Press newswire by tweeting @reliefsparknola.<br>
• 7 days later took over an outdoor relief kitchen started by a church group and began grilling hamburgers and brats for survivors, rescue workers, FEMA and volunteers.  Operations grew to serving a total of 30,000 meals and the distribution of 100,000+ bottles of water/gatorade and fruit juice.
• Organized, coordinated and distributed with Sumner County Food Bank the distribution of 100,000 lbs of canned and boxed food/laundry supplies to survivors.
• House gutted/demolished 34 homes.
• Repaired 40 homes.
• Coordinated 250 volunteers over Spring Break resulting in support to Americorp Debris Removal Program, Joplin Humane Society, Joplin Museum and Project JoMO (safe rooms).
• Launched the “first-ever” *sustainable veggie garden for Cecil Floyd Elementary that will include a total of 11 veggie planters and 3 flower gardens serving 580 children 2x month with fresh fruits and vegetables. *Plans to build 6 more.

2012 – new orleans

• Launched a beautification program in the Treme neighborhood that includes lawn mowing, pressure washing, house painting, flower and veggie gardens, including trash pickup and leaf raking/disposing.  A total of 5 homes completed (entire house painting, front porch).
• McDonogh 42:  library repainted and organized by Emory University and Pratt Institute of Technology