Louisiana Federal Credit Union donates school supplies to recovering classrooms

In the wake of the severe damage suffered by schools from Hurricane Ida, Louisiana Federal Credit Union has provided affected classrooms with much-needed school supplies.

The credit union recently delivered pirogues filled with 10,126 school supplies items to 12 classrooms in southeast Louisiana — including to teachers at St. Rose Elementary, Norco Elementary and Ethel Schoeffner Elementary.

“Teachers and students are experiencing enough burden as it is,” Rhonda Hotard, president and CEO of Louisiana FCU, said. “This is one small way to help alleviate the financial pressure.”

LFCU Director of Business Development and Community Outreach Kim Bourgeois said the recipients were nominated by community members during the credit union’s annual Pack the Pirogue supplies drive.

“This is an event we do annually, but this year it was so timely with so many classrooms losing so much,” Bourgeois said. “This is the most we’ve ever collected … that was phenomenal.”

Bourgeois said the credit union facilitated the drive through its Facebook page by putting out a call for donations and nominations for teachers. She said Pack the Pirogue garnered 120 nominations and attracted thousands of physical and monetary donations from credit union staff, members and local businesses, such as ADM Grain and Building Specialties.

Hurricane Ida’s estimated damage tally of $95 billion would make it the seventh costliest hurricane to hit the U.S. since 2000, according to AccuWeather.

“We always enjoy supporting the community that we serve,” Bourgeois said. “It’s one of our core values, but this year had a more meaningful impact.”

Mary-Lynn Detillier, an Ethel Schoeffner Elementary teacher and pirogue recipient, said she was extremely grateful to receive supplies.

“You need certain things to help you succeed in the classroom,” she said. “Teachers spend a lot of our hardworking money on supplies for our kids, because not all of them come with the supplies needed. It’s really amazing that Louisiana Federal Credit Union put this on and blessed all of these teachers this year.”