Junior League of Lafayette Provisional Members Make an Impact

4 hours 29 minutes ago

Junior League of Lafayette teamed up with the residents of the New Life Center, a shelter for women and children in Opelousas, for their fall service project. The New Life Center operates 365 days a year and shelters up to 58 women and their children in a hotel room style setting. The Center provides three hot meals a day, a licensed Class A child care center, a substance abuse program in addition to supportive services to help secure employment, permanent housing and other services that may be needed. The provisional class combined four projects into one comprehensive approach to make a real impact on the New Life Center, thereby allowing each Junior League member a fulfilling opportunity to utilize her own unique abilities and time to truly make the most impact in the lives of the shelter's women and children.

The project included two life skills classes consisting of tips for resume writing, interview skills, appropriate work wear and budgeting. League provisional member Kelly Grenier, who helped organize the life skills class portion of the project, commented that "the class was intended to last for 30 minutes, but the residents all showed such genuine interest and care in what we had to teach them that we ended up talking for an hour and half. Some of the residents have even emailed us their resumes to review."

The second portion of the project was a clothing/toy drive in which clothing, toiletries, shoes, purses, and toys were donated by active Junior League of Lafayette members and sustainers, and sororities within the community. Items were organized and delivered to the residents of the shelter.

Repainting and organizing the shelter's recreational room was another huge portion of the project. Several members teamed up to paint and build furniture for the recreational room which serves as an area for residents to hang out as well as an overflow room when the shelter is at maximum capacity. A large mural was painted on the wall complete with handprints of all residents and Junior League provisional members.

Last but not least, children of the shelter were treated to a morning of arts and crafts during which they enjoyed making Christmas stockings and toy snowmen.

Provisional Chairman Alise Hagan stated, "This year I selected the theme We Can Do It!' as the class motto, and the provisionals have shown us that yes, they can do whatever they put their minds and hearts to. Our provisional members have first-hand experience now being 'granted the joy of filling someone's needs'. The class advisers and I are immensely proud of the creativity, dedication, and generosity of time and spirit the provisional members have demonstrated. The League continues to be inspired by each of the amazing talents the provisional members graciously share with the League, the New Life Center, and the community."

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Junior League of Lafayette Provisional Members Make an Impact