Last week, several events took place that allowed local school children to receive free school supplies.
Various churches, non-profits and businesses have participated in providing the needed items prior to school opening for the new school year August 6.
The first event was held July 28, as Olla First Baptist Church hosted the northwest LaSalle event, Back to School Blessings Event.
The sanctuary of the church was filled to capacity as families gathered for a time of singing and hearing from local youth minister and LHS Head Football Coach Hunter Johnson.
Following the service, free food and treats were given away along with school supplies.
The event was sponsored by Olla First Baptist Church, Pinehill Baptist Church, Tullos First Baptist Church, Olla Methodist Church and local businesses.
In south LaSalle, school supplies and backpacks were distributed on Thursday, July 31.
The first annual WoodmenLife Supply Drive Thru was held at the WoodmenLife Lodge, located on US 84 at the Townsmen Inn, where families drove into the parking lot and were handed bags filled with school supplies according to the age of the children.
Organizer and WoodmenLife Representative Kylie Myers said notebooks, folders, crayons, markers, colored pencils, pencils, pens, highlighters, loose leaf paper, coloring boxes and more were given away as part of the not-for-profit life insurance company’s mission to give back to its members and community.
“I helped with a similar event in Concordia Parish two years ago and when I realized that something like this hasn’t been done in a few years in LaSalle, well, I just knew we had to do it,” Myers said. “I know how expensive school supplies can be for just one child, so when you have more than one, it really gets expensive.”
She said her team of around 20 volunteers handed out 200 bags of supplies for elementary age children and 200 bags for junior high and high school youth.
“And it was all gone within an hour after we started,” she said. “I can’t say enough how appreciative we are for all of the help we received, from those who donated to those who helped us distribute. We were all just doing what we could to help – to give back to our community.”
A total of 28 businesses donated to the cause, with volunteers assisting with the drive-thru give-away being WoodmenLife Representatives and Members, LaSalle Nursing Home, CLB representatives and the LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office.
At the same time, Larry Campbell with Lulu’s World was busy giving away backpacks at his office location in downtown Jena.
“We gave away approximately 100 backpacks, along with paper towels, Kleenex and disinfectant wipes,” he said. “This was possible because of the generosity of Ford’s Tree Service, Darrel McDowell Consulting and Lulu’s World.”
He noted that the need for many in LaSalle to simply have a new backpack for the start of school is great and he was honored to participate in this event.
“We pray for the kids and teachers, that they may have a wonderful 2025-2026 school year,” he said.
All of the events saw various groups, businesses and individuals from throughout the parish join together to meet the needs of many families in LaSalle.
