Residents at Luling Living Center moved station to station, picking out gifts for the special people in their lives – a penny here and a penny there.
It was part of the annual Penny Party Christmas outreach event coordinated by the St. Charles Parish Women’s Club. The organization’s members donate various gift items for the event, which also took place this year at Ormond Nursing and Care Center. The event allows residents of these senior living facilities to “shop” for Christmas gifts for their loved ones using pennies provided by the club. Each gift “costs” a penny each and the Women’s Club gives the pennies to the seniors to use them prior to “shopping.”
Members of the women’s club volunteer their time as well, working stations at the event, sorting the gifts and helping residents gift wrap them following their selections. It’s one of many community service initiatives put on by the nonprofit organization annually.
“We collect these items from our members, donations, and one day we organize and sort all the items, put them in stations and residents can come choose anything they want,” said Ann Folse of the St. Charles Parish Women’s Club. “We gift wrap, and we write cards for them. The club’s been doing this for nearly 20 years … it’s very gratifying for us. We get so many positive comments from the residents and workers alike, and you can see so much joy.
“It’s great for us and for them. We feel very fortunate that we’re able to give back and serve the community – that’s what we want to do.”
Tyrell Cornwell of the Women’s Club said emotions kick in sometimes.
“One gentleman last year, he was in a wheelchair and holding a brooch … he said ‘this is the first time I’m able to give a present to my wife,’” Cornwell said. “A lot don’t have money to buy gifts for their families, so here they can do that, buy for their families and give back to them. If they run out (of pennies), we give them more.”
Once the event clears, the club allows workers to enter and buy items for 25 cents each. The money collected goes back to the nursing home. Other items are donated to ARC of St. Charles.
The St. Charles Women’s Club was formed in 1966 with purpose is to bring women together to benefit and enrich the community. Membership comes mainly from St. Charles Parish but it also welcomes women from outside the parish.
The club meets monthly from September to May on the third Thursday of each month at the River Parishes Community College in Boutte.
Members support local food banks with monthly nonperishable donations and participate in the “Don’t Leave Me Behind” program to raise awareness about preventing heat-related injuries to children, pets, and seniors. The club provides hands-on assistance by shopping for, wrapping, and delivering Christmas gifts to Head Start children. The club also awards annual college scholarships to St. Charles Parish seniors and distributes a portion of its fundraising proceeds to local nonprofit organizations, awarding more than $18,000 to charities in 2025 alone.
