Special to
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — More than 800 elderly, handicapped and homeless residents received Thanksgiving morning meals during the Friends of St. John “Meals on Wheels” program, organizers said.

Founder John Swafford partnered with Nina Santa Marina, president of the Cheffen Wilson Milton Foundation, a nonprofit organization, to allow the Friends of St. John to receive monetary donations.

 “This year’s event has proven to be our most successful with feeding over 800 residents,” Swafford said.

Pastor Freddie Howard of Mount Calvary Baptist Church on West 3rd Street donated his church to meet, greet and prepare the meals.

Private monetary donations, along with in-kind gifts, helped make this year of giving a success, Marina said.

“Most people want to stay home with their families on Thanksgiving morning, but this set of volunteers prefers to delay their Thanksgiving dinner to be with us, the Friends of St. John,” Swafford said.

“What can I say? I’m blessed to have this entire crew support the cause.”

To learn more about the Friends of St. John 2015 program, call 504-684-5412 or visit the Cheffen Wilson Milton Foundation at

cwmfoundation.org.