Each Wednesday, L’Observateur recognizes individuals and businesses in the River Parishes that have gone “above and beyond” in their efforts to make this a better place to live, work and play.

We believe an integral part of a community’s wellbeing is an attitude and arena where people who do good things … who work to improve life for others … who try to make a difference … are recognized and saluted.

Because this is a salute to members of the community of the entire River Parishes, we solicit your recommendations for groups or individuals to be considered for inclusion.

This week we salute:

• The St. John Parish Young Marines, Gold Eagle Security and Raising Cane’s, who all helped make L’Observateur’s second annual Christmas donation drive to the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home a huge success. The roughly month-long drive culminated with a delivery and celebration at the home last Wednesday.

• The Friends of St. John, who recently delivered 500 holiday dinners to elderly, homeless and other less fortunate individuals in the region. Dozens of volunteers from the group prepared the food and delivered it door to door.

• The Rotary Club of LaPlace, which recently distributed gift baskets of toys, clothing and food to deserving families in St. John Parish. The deliveries continued a long-standing tradition of the Rotary Club sharing its success with the community.

• St. John Parish leaders who gathered for a recent meeting of the parish’s Youth Services Planning Board. The board works with the parish court system to reach out to children and young teenagers who may be on the verge of delving into serious criminal activity in the community.