St Landry Parish Louisiana News

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, August 2, 2006

ST. LANDRY PARISH GOVERNMENT HELPING OUT EDUCATIONAL EVENT

(Opelousas,LA) - St. Landry Parish President Don Menard and Parish Council Finance Chairman James Eaglin, on behalf of St. Landry Parish Government, presented a donation in the amount of $2,000 on Wednesday to State Rep. Donald Cravins, Jr. and St. Landry Community Services, Inc. Director Roy Bellard. The donation will go towards the upcoming St. Landry Parish Educational Extravaganza, scheduled for 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday at the Farmers Market in Opelousas. The event, which furnishes students in St. Landry Parish with needed school supplies, is sponsored by Rep. Cravins and St. Landry Community Services.

"It’s important that our students start the school year off on the right foot,” said Parish President Don Menard. “We are proud to be a part of this endeavor,” he said.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support offered by businesses and organizations in the community,” said State Rep. Donald Cravins, Jr. “One of the benefits of the event is to alleviate some of the costs of back-to-school expenses and allow families to stay within household budgets, and donations like this one will help to do just that,” he said. “The St. Landry Parish Educational Extravaganza will also help to ensure students return to class with basic supplies,” added Cravins.

Educational Extravaganza Committee Chairman Marie Renaud said the event committee plans to use the donation funds to help purchase more uniforms. “We plan to purchase additional vouchers in the amount of $20,” said Renaud. “The families will be able to take the vouchers to participating stores like Stage and apply the voucher to their uniform cost,” she said.

Last week, event volunteers assembled 2-thousand school supply packages for grades K- 12^th and organizers are hoping that amount will be enough. “Last year, we had about 2,000 people show up for the educational extravaganza,” said Renaud. “This year, we could very well see more,” she said.

In addition to school supplies and uniforms that will be given out, refreshments and food will be on hand. St. Landry Parish Government is providing soft drinks and water for the event, while the St. Landry Parish Cattleman’s Association is providing burgers and B&B Builders is donating hot dogs.