LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / May 30, 2000

LULING – United Way of St. Charles moved into its new home – bigger, moremodern and with room to grow in – on River Road in Luling.

At one time United Way operated virtually out of former director Alcide Laurent’s car trunk. Since Monday United Way is located in the former FirstAmerican Bank building between Milling and Sellers.

The building was built in the 1950s as Bank of St. Charles, which laterbecame First American Bank, according to the bank’s executive officer, J.B.Falgoust.

Falgoust noted that United Way, for nearly 10 years up until this week, had been working out of the old Luling-Hahnville Bank building across from the St.

Charles Parish courthouse. That bank was the predecessor of Bank of St.Charles.

Therefore, when United Way executive director George Williamson approached him about donating the Luling building as the bank moved into their new First American Place near the Hale Boggs Bridge, he jumped at the opportunity.

“I thought it was a good gesture,” Falgoust said, adding the old building was far too small now to meet the bank’s needs. Barring the donation, it waspossible the building would have instead been torn down.

Instead, the building will serve St. Charles Parish for years to come, as thefacility will meet United Way’s needs for the foreseeable future.

Williamson was overjoyed at the bank’s action, as United Way had outgrown the tiny bank building in Hahnville. That building is now earmarked to becomethe law offices of attorney Andrew Lemmon.

Local contractor H.B. Zachry helped the agency move to its newheadquarters, and Gage Telephone Systems of New Orleans donated a phone system for a building which includes a kitchen, conference rooms, several offices and a vault.

“The generosity!” Williamson exclaimed of Falgoust. “I can’t say enoughabout this man. It’s fantastic!”

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