A local Avenel business is organizing a donation drive to help the thousands of people affected by the flooding in Louisiana.

Vehicle Dynamics Institute has set up a two-level trailer at Gate 4 at Old Bridge's Raceway Park. The business has ties to Baton Rouge and is asking New Jersey residents to donate.

"It's very easy to come up with a thousand excuses why not to do something. But if not now, when?" says Vehicle Dynamics Institute's Joseph Autera.

The storms in Louisiana damaged more than 60,000 homes and displaced thousands. At least 13 people were killed. Nearly 3,000 are still in shelters.

Relief organizers say that they are looking for cleaning supplies like mops, buckets and bleach, plus clothing and personal hygiene items such as soap, baby wipes and tooth brushes. They are also taking gift card donations.

The trailer will accept donations every day from noon to 8 p.m. Once it is filled, it will be driven to Louisiana.

Louisiana has received about $20 million in federal disaster aid due to the storm.