NEW IBERIA, La. — At West End Park in Iberia Parish, it was another case of the Three O’Clock Project working wonders.
Boxes of food were given to all children under the age of 18, and each box—one per child—contained seven breakfasts and seven other meals, for either lunch or dinner—just enough to keep a lot of these families going.
“A lot of families depend on their kids, when they go to school, to have two meals a day,” says Janele Matherne of the Three O’Clock Project. “And, because the children are out of school because of Corona, it can be very expensive. This is an effort to help those in need, to make sure the children get the nutrients that they need.”
There were so many great volunteers helping to make things happen. Some funding also pays for these meals, and David D’Aquin of Cox Communications was on hand to help in that arena with a $5,000 check.
“We said ‘yes’ so people wouldn’t have to worry about having food, which is one of the most basic needs,” explains D’Aquin. “Typically, we (Cox) focus on getting people connected to the internet and making sure they have the devices they need; but kids can’t focus on school if they don’t have food in their stomachs, so we want to make sure our neighbors have food.”
Of course, those who wish to match the donations (for example: The Scripps Family Impact Fund, through the Scripps Howard Foundation donated $12,000) at katctv.com/rebound.
Again, there were several volunteers—men, women and children---on hand to bring the food to the cars.
Among the volunteers? Partners in crime at KATC—Eman Boyd, Katie Easter and Briana Aldridge.
“I think it’s really great to be out there with the people who watch us and support us,” says Aldridge. “And to be able to come out here, with people of all ages and different organizations, just to give back? I think it’s great.”
The Three O’Clock Project has operated out of 12 locations throughout Acadiana, and each week has given out, on average, 128,000 meals!
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