As Christmas approaches, sometimes the greatest gift we can give is simply to give. The St. Charles Parish offers opportunities for those who want to celebrate the holidays by giving back to those in need.
Give a toy to children Children’s Hospital
St. Charles Parish government employees are hosting a toy drive for Children’s Hospital with donations accepted until Dec. 18, but they’re also working hard to make it a holiday celebration for these children.
“I once worked in a pediatric department several years back so I know firsthand how important it is to try to offer some kind of Christmas cheer to these kids,” said Anedra Coleman, assistant to the parish president, who is heading the local drive. “Many of these kids won’t have the opportunity to go see Santa in the mall or have hot chocolate at home.”
It’s why the toy drive and now the celebration has been Coleman’s mission for more than eight years. She wants something that “will ring joy in other people’s lives, especially at this time of the year.”
In that time, she’s observed St. Charles Parish children among the many in Children’s Hospital, benefiting from a parish that she called “awesome” in making donations.
“We couldn’t do this without them” Coleman said. “This is a gift from St. Charles Parish and we make sure the fine folks there know we’re making this deliver. Parish children get a gift, but it’s also the parish giving to those children.”
Last year, Coleman estimated they provided a toy to more than 100 children and the year prior they delivered nearly 2,600 toys.
This year the gift giving will include a celebration, including Santa and getting a photograph with him, a Christmas movie on a big screen at the hospital. They’ll get candy canes, too.
“This is the first time we’ve brought Santa,” she said. “We wanted something to engage the kids. We didn’t just want to drop the toys off.”
To donate or for more information, contact Anedra Coleman at (985) 783-5000 or acoleman@stcharlesgov.net. Toys for patients ranging from birth to age 21 can be dropped off to the parish Planning and Zoning Department, 14996 River Road, Hahnville.
Volunteer and/or donate food to the Matthew 25:35 Food Pantry at St. Charles United Methodist Church
Supporting an effort that feeds those in need, the Matthew 25:35 Food Pantry at St. Charles United Methodist Church in Destrehan welcomes donations and volunteers to support its efforts to help the parish’s needy.
The need seems to grow a little more every onth, but someone comes along and helps, said Program Coordinator Mary Anne Schindler. The Food Pantry was pretty bare after Thanksgiving, leading to worries about where the food would come from for Christmas, but then the 4-H showed up with a truck full of food.
“Personally, it means more to me,” Schindler said of the charity work. “It’s more of a blessing to the volunteers than the people we’re helping. It does bless us to bless others.”
The blessings keep coming and are continually needed.
“As soon as we don’t know how we’ll have enough volunteer the Dow Chemical called and volunteered for a day and then they brought food,” Schindler said. “It just happens over and over again. One of the blessings I have is, no matter where I go in the parish, people hug me and tell me how what we did for them mattered to them.”
Volunteers are needed to help distribute food every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon and every Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the church, 1905 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan.
They are also needed for “The Angel Tree” party at 7:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 19 where gifts are given to the children of prison inmates, Schindler said. Inmates can request toys for their children through the chaplain, who delivers the requests to Schindler. The party also features a visit from Santa.
To volunteer or donate, contact Mary Anne Schindler at (985) 764-8386 or (504) 710-5650 or at Beronco@hotmail.com.
Give a pet a home
The St. Charles Humane Society encourages all residents to consider giving a forever home to a sheltered pet.
“Their days are spent in a kennel or cage and a wonderful home is the best gift you can give to truly save a life,” said Jackie Boudreaux, president of St. Charles Parish Humane Society. “Pets give so much in return to those who live and cherish. You can ask any pet owner how much their pet(s) mean to them and the response will be unanimous in stating “Pets are a part of their family.””
The St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter, located at 921 Rue La Cannes in Luling, is teeming with pets who are ready to be adopted.
Boudreaux said the holiday season is often a time people think of a pet as a gift.
“It is important to never surprise someone with a pet,” she said, adding that she recommends going to the shelter with someone interested in a pet and allow that person and/or family to make the decision. “In doing so, you do what is in the best interest of a new owner and for the pet.”
If it is not the right time to make a long-term commitment to own a pet, the Humane Society can discuss possible fostering of pets. Fostering a pet has certain requirements, one which includes clearance from the shelter vet and if approved the fostering of a pet can begin.
There is no charge to foster a pet. The paperwork required is similar to adoption except it is a foster form and not an adoption form.
To make a donation to the St. Charles Parish Humane Society, it can be mailed to P.O. Box 1331, Luling, LA 70070 or by calling (985) 783-5010.
Volunteer or donate to Assistance For Single Parents
Established in August of last year, Assistance for Single Parents (ASA) is a nonprofit organization with a mission is to assist and empower working single parents – especially the working poor and underemployed – in the parish and surrounding area with support, services and fellowship.
“If you truly want to help someone in need this holiday, help a single parent,” said ASA Executive Director Debra Rieder. “Offer to babysit so the single parent can go Christmas shopping alone, wrap packages, spend an evening with a friend, or just take a much needed nap. When you cook dinner, every now and then cook a ‘pot’ large enough and share with a single-parent family. If you are blessed and have an extra $25, $50 or $100 on occasion, mail a card anonymously that says, ‘Just thinking about you. You are doing an amazing job, keep up the great work.’ Or consider leaving a bag of groceries on a single-parent families’ doorstep for no particular reason. During the summer when you cut your grass, how difficult would it be to run the lawnmower across their yard, too? Do you wash your car in your driveway … wash theirs too? Or what about just knocking on the door of a single parent and bringing them a cup of coffee and have a conversation? Single parenting can be lonely and having someone to just talk with or bounce an idea off of would be incredible. “
For ASA, the great need is funding or in-kind donations, Rieder said. Additional fund would allow the group to continue offering quality programs like legal and budgeting workshops, uniform giveaways, money management and flea markets, as well as services to provide a “hand up” not a “hand out.”
To volunteer or donate, contact Debra Rieder at (985) 233-1173 or email AssistanceForSingleParents@gmail.com.
Volunteer or donate items to the St. Charles Women’s Club
Many nonprofit organizations in the community are feeling the impact of extra funds generously donated to them from the St. Charles Women’s Club (SCWC).
Donating money or an item for club’s TeaCup Auction, its major fundraiser, would help fund several nonprofits in St. Charles Parish.
The group’s numerous recipients include the St. Charles Art Guild, St. Charles Humane Society, Alpha Daughter of Zion; Assistance for Single Parents; Community Chorus, Creative Family Solutions; Destrehan High Schools Senior Citizen Program; German Coast Farmer’s Market; Junior Achievement, Pink Ladies; River Region Ballet Inc.; River Road Historical Society; St. Charles Borromeo Ministry of Care; St. Charles Museum & Historical Association; St. Charles Parish Humane Society; St. Charles Parish Sheriff Explorer’s Post; St. Charles Parish Schools Head Start; St. Charles Social Concerns; and St. Charles United Methodist Church.
Celebrating its 50th year of giving, the SCWC is a nonprofit civic and social organization operating by the motto, “Making a difference.”
“The SCWC gives back to the community all year long,” said Teresa Miller, club historian chairwoman. “Funds raised help to purchase Christmas gifts for the Head Start children and fund numerous scholarships for local graduates.”
The club’s 179 members also donate and collect food for local food banks, as well as personal care and toiletry items for the Battered Women’s shelter.
“Supporting the SCWC is supporting the citizens of St. Charles Parish,” said Regina Allemand, publicity chair and 22-year member. “These dedicated women research to whom and how these funds are distributed using a fair and methodical method.”
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