St. John goes back to school
Published 12:10 am Wednesday, August 3, 2016
- LaPlace resident Kirsten Knott, center in gray, arrived at the St. John Community Center at 4 a.m. Saturday to be one of the first people in line with her children at The 2016 Backpack Extravaganza, spearheaded by Eliza Eugene with Blessed to be a Blessing. (Constance Woods/L’OBSERVATEUR)
Local families were the big winners July 30 as two annual events Saturday helped parents prepare for the upcoming school year.
Deputy Ingrid Schnyder fingerprints a local child at Blessed to be a Blessing’s Backpack Extravaganza.
Eliza Eugene, with Blessed to be a Blessing, partnered St. John the Baptist Parish officials, Omega Psi Phi and Marathon Petroleum to host a Backpack Extravaganza and School Supply Giveaway for local children, where approximately 700 children were given school supplies.
Hosted at St. John Community Center in LaPlace, residents started lining up at 4 a.m. for the event, which included plenty of giveaways and service opportunities.
West St. John’s third annual Education, Employment and Empowerment Festival at West St. John Elementary School was also a big hit, providing residents plenty of opportunities in Edgard Saturday afternoon.
Other contributors included at the Backpack Extravaganza were St. John United Way, St. John Parish Council, the St. John Parish District Attorney’s Office and CORE Construction.
More than 30 volunteers from Marathon Petroleum helped make Saturday’s effort a success.
St. John the Baptist Parish Assessor Whitney Joseph Jr., Sheriff Mike Tregre, Eliza Eugene, Parish President Natalie Robottom and Parish Councilman Lennix Madere.
Many people helped at the Backpack Extravaganza and School Supply Giveaway.
Many people helped at the Backpack Extravaganza and School Supply Giveaway.
