Although residents initially questioned building a community center unable to hold events like graduations, Edward A. Dufresne Community Center Coordinator Erica Mire maintained the facility is gaining the kind of use that justifies its $10.6 million tab.
“People want to know why we’re not turning a profit,” Mire said of the center that opened in late 2013. “But it was never intended to; it was never designed for that. We just want to be used.”
Mire said there have been misunderstandings about the center’s goals and discussed new ideas about how to improve its catering services.
Located at 274 Judge Edward Dufresne Parkway, the facility has seating for 1,000 people, community meeting rooms, parish offices and a 195-space parking lot.
Some 94 percent of what the center has handled so far is government functions, and they’re not required to pay a dime to use the facility, she said. But that is not to say the building is not making money. In 2014, the center made nearly $17,500 in an eight-month period, just over $2,100 per month.
This year’s projections are higher.
Mire explained the center has already generated $6,872 in profits from deposits on upcoming functions.
“This is a significant jump over last year,” she said. While the center currently offers catering to its clients, Mire said they have taken steps to offer more options to prospective patrons. Instead of one caterer, they want at least four.
“It’s good to have to have a caterer capable of accommodating a large body of people,” she said. “However, I think it would be good to also provide a smaller caterer for those clients who only need sandwich platters and cold drinks.”
The 30,000 square-foot facility houses the St. Charles Parks and Recreation Office. A satellite office of the Department of Community Services and the office of the St. Charles Parish Retire & Senior Volunteers Program (RSVP), a full-court gymnasium with bleachers, a full-service kitchen and meeting rooms with what Director Of Parks and Recreation Duane Foret describes as “state of the art.”
“We feel like we are going in the right direction,’ Foret said. “The center’s multi-function basketball court provides a great place for our Biddy Basketball program, our adult basketball program, and inside walking track. Plus, we can do dances, like the Senior Mardi Gras Dance and all sorts of parties and receptions.”
A satellite office for the Department of Community Services has also been established in the community center. This office provides assistance, for low-income families, with heating, home repair, Medicaid services and legal aid. With the main office in New Sarpy, Joan Diaz, director of Community Services, said she believes this new satellite office helps those residents who need help an extra convenience of not having to travel to the East bank. Special Programs Coordinator Bonnie White added, “We’re here to help.”
“I’ve been working here for 20 years,” White said. “Just with the energy department I’d estimate we help at least 300 people a year.”
The RSVP office, which coordinates residents 55-years-old and older to volunteer their time for area events, is a place where they can come and organize their agenda and meet to keep current on community activities in which they will participate.
RSVP makes and packages sandwiches for the Hahnville High School away games andcoordinates the Veterans Day Luncheon which served more than 400 St. Charles Parish Vets. They also help to run, in conjunction with Valero and the United Way, the St. Charles Toy and Gift Fund which served over 1,100 children of St. Charles Parish last Christmas.
RSVP Director Michelle Higgins said she’s thrilled to have a place where these folks who give so much to others have a place to plan what it is they do.
“They’ve never had a building like this before, this type of space,” Higgins said. “I think it makes them proud to have a place, so bright, so modern to work out of as opposed to the high school gyms they were used to working out of. And also, to recognize themselves for all they do, as was done with the recognition luncheon we held here for over 400 volunteers.”
Foret said he feels everyone in the parish should be proud of this building not just because of how beautiful it is, although it is that, but because of the beautiful things it provides for the community. The good example of organized sport for our children it provides, and the dedication to the seniors of our community, the people who helped build this community and who raised our generation giving us our opportunities in life.
“We feel like we are going in the right direction,” he said.
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