By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

RESERVE – Christmas came a little early this year at the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Reserve as Santa made his annual stop at the facility.

Prior to his arrival, the residents and their families packed the dining area for a party featuring a Christmas feast and a band playing a wide selection of golden oldies.

Once jolly old St. Nick arrived, he led the many generations present in Christmas carols and posed for so many pictures that at one point he commented he felt as though the paparazzi were around.

Although Santa’s visit helped to lift the spirits of the veterans, Santa cannot do it all by himself. That is why L’Observateur has teamed up with St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office Young Marines Program to create a unique gift-giving program for the men and women at the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Reserve. The newspaper office is currently collecting donations of toiletries, books, travel games, cards and assorted art supplies, including canvass, acrylic paints, brushes and colored pencils, to give to residents at the home.

“We have a lot of people interested in painting, so we’re looking for art supplies,” said Sonya Hebert, the home’s recreation director.

She said resident Freeman Rose has encouraged many fellow veterans to pick up a paintbrush for the first time.

Of course, toiletry items are a constant need at the home.

Donations have been slow to come into the L’Observateur office, so the paper is asking the community to dig deep this holiday season to help brighten the lives of these men and women who have given so much for this nation.

The deadline to donate is Dec. 17, but please do not wait until the last minute. All donations can be brought to the L’Observateur office, located at 116 Newspaper Drive in LaPlace, just behind Destiny Christian Center on Main Street. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on the program, call the office at 985-652-9545.

Hebert also said there are many other ways the community can support the residents at the home.

She said the home is currently trying to raise funds for the construction of a recreation center for the residents.

Also, the home is always looking for volunteers, she said.

Volunteers can choose the area in which they would like to participate.

“There’s a lot of things they can do here,” she said.

For more information on volunteering or donating to the building fund, contact Hebert at 985-479-4080.