By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The past two weeks have been very trying for everyone in the St. John the Baptist Parish community as the region continues to cope with the Aug. 16 shootings that killed two St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s deputies and wounded two others.

The sadness and frustration surrounding that tragedy, however, has been able to spawn a strong sense of community spirit as residents from all parts of the region have been very willing to offer support and aid in their own ways.

According to results from last week’s L’Observateur online poll, the majority of residents who have offered support have done it in the form of prayer. Others opted to give blood or attend the recent candlelight vigil in LaPlace. A few have gone as far as donating food or money to the families of the deputies killed or wounded in the attack.

A complete breakdown of the results is as follows:

• 55 percent of respondents said, “offered prayers.”

• 12 percent of respondents said, “gave blood.”

• 12 percent of respondents said, “attended the vigil.”

• 10 percent of respondents said, “donated money or food to the families.”

• 10 percent of respondents said, “all of the above.”