LAPLACE — Thirty-six holiday gift boxes to help residents in need were put together recently by parish leaders and local students, including St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom, parish employees, Councilman Lucien Gauff, Councilman Marvin Perrilloux, Councilwoman Jaclyn Hotard and two of her classes at Riverside Academy.

The gift boxes were filled with canned goods, non-perishable food items and gift certificates for a turkey or ham from local grocers and distributed Friday in the Council Chambers.

Robottom said parish staff and employees participate in a Christmas Gift Box project each year to help people in need throughout our community.

“St. John the Baptist Parish is a giving community, and parish employees and elected officials come together to provide families in need with a variety of food items for their Christmas meals,” Robottom said.

Recipients were selected from a list provided by the Health and Human Services Department.