Doula Right Thing Update #2

Doula Right Thing Update #2

by | Oct 10, 2025 | Blog, Doula Right Thing

Dear Community,

Well, we trained 23 new doulas in June 2025 with your generous donation to us!!! In total, we now have almost 60 volunteer doulas in the Acadiana area helping moms and babies. With your support, these doulas received both online training and in person training at Louisiana HealthCare Connections (LHC), another partner of ours who gives us the space to train.

Mary’s Hands Doulas Continues to grow. We had another training in August 2025 here in Lafayette, and we will continue to have more next year! Stay tuned. Out of all of the cities in Louisiana, our area is the most active for birth work. BIG things are happening here. Because of your generosity, the love is growing.

Sincerely and with love,
Jenny Thompson

Soap and Hope Update #2

Soap and Hope Update #2

by | Aug 15, 2025 | Blog, Soap & Hope

Dear Community, since my last letter I have successfully launched the Soap and Hope toiletry pantries and I’d like to say thank you for making this launch possible. I had my ribbon cutting in May, and it was a major success, members from the community family and friends, Butch and Carlee came out to celebrate with me along with the Housing Authority leaders. I was able to further share my vision for the community and the impact I’m hoping to have through this outreach. Since then, I’ve serviced over 100 residents in within the Housing Authority’s community and counting. I have even managed to help a few people outside of that community with through partnership with other nonprofits like the Beacon. I have also so up an overflow pantry at my salon for those in need outside of that community. The next location that I’m considering is Holy Family Apartments, I just have to get in touch with management to see what’s my next steps.

I have also started collecting donations for the Soap & Hope boxes for schools I’d like to supply hygiene propane underwear to schools across the district for the kids that have accidents at school or might just need it because they don’t have it at home, this project will take some funding as I’m researching different options for grants at the moment. Being a part of 24hcp has been a blessing and added fuel to my fire, once again o thank you all! I have depleted the $4000 grant but it has gone so far and I still have goods in stock so it makes it easier for me to replenish, I put aside a few dollars here and there to be able to keep it going until I can get more funding. Best regards and I hope to work with you all some day in some way to build our communities one person at a time!

Art on Wheels Update #2

Art on Wheels Update #2

by | Aug 15, 2025 | Art on Wheels, Blog

Dear Community,

Hello again! We’re excited to share some updates since our last letter in May. Over the past few months, our team has been focused on the art side of the Art on Wheels project, while our bicycle racks are in the final stages of fabrication with HydroBlade.

This summer, we received valuable help from the Acadiana Center for the Arts (ACA) in developing the Call for Artists guidelines and form, which we published soon after. We’re grateful to the ACA staff for their assistance and for organizing a table for us at ArtWalk on August 9th to promote the Call for Artists. Beyond ArtWalk, we’ve distributed flyers across the community—posting them in coffee shops, art studios, bicycle shops, downtown businesses, Super One Foods, and more. A heartfelt thank-you to all the supportive community members and businesses who helped us spread the word!

The Call for Artists opened on August 1 and will remain open until September 15. Between October 1–22, the two selected artists will paint the bicycle racks. In November—exactly one year after Art on Wheels received funding from the 24-Hour Citizen Project—we’ll install the finished racks and celebrate with a ribbon cutting and a group bicycle ride.

Our next steps include building a panel of judges to review the designs. We will finalize our list of approved weather-resistant paints suitable for painting on metal and select a primer and sealer that will be provided to the artists. We are also in the beginning stages of planning the ribbon-cutting event. We have finalized installation details with the 811 OneCalls and plan to install the painted racks on a Saturday in November with our installers. We are planning to finalize the ribbon-cutting details, group ride route, and the date and time of the installation in September. In the meantime, we can’t wait to see the designs submitted!

If you are an artist, we invite you to submit a design with the Call for Artists Form. Artists of any age and skill level are encouraged to apply. If you’re interested in a Bike Rack Art Mural for your business, we invite you to fill out the Interest Form. Stay tuned to our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for more project updates as we try to create a more colorful, bike-friendly community here in Lafayette!

Sincerely,
Blair Begnaud, Gabe Griffard, and Matthew Dufrene
Team Art on Wheels
artonwheelslafayette@gmail.com

Reel Connections Update #2

Reel Connections Update #2

by | Aug 8, 2025 | Blog, Reel Connections

Dear Community,

Thank you for celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month with our (E)motion picture event. We were able to connect with nearly 40 Acadiana residents and use film as a catalyst for conversation.

Families attending were treated to a red carpet experience with an abundance of Hollywood glamour. We rolled out the red carpet, popped the popcorn and settled in for an enjoyable viewing of the 90’s classic Homeward Bound. Following the movie, 5 qualified mental health professionals dedicated and donated time to leading family conversations about emotions experienced during the film and modeled how to process these feelings through conversation. These professionals donated nearly $600 worth of services through their time facilitating family discussions at the event.

Families completing the post event survey unanimously expressed that they would participate in another (E)motion picture event were one offered. Respondents noted how impressed they were with how the event sparked conversation for their families.

We are so grateful to 24 Hour Citizen Project for their generous funding of the project and to Children’s Museum of Acadiana for serving as our host site for the event. Thank you to all who attended, volunteered, and cheered us on along the way. We have loved serving Acadiana in this way and can’t wait to see you all again at the movies.

Soap and Hope Update #2

Soap and Hope Update #1

by | May 28, 2025 | Blog, Soap & Hope

Dear Community,

It took three months from the time we received our grant funding to shop for all the items needed to stock our community pantries. By shopping in-store at Dollar Tree, Walmart, and Sam’s Club, we were able to save a great deal on shipping fees and stretch our budget further. With great care and intention, we purchased essential cleaning and hygiene supplies to support families in need.

We successfully stocked closets at two separate locations and maintain an overflow pantry at home to ensure we can restock each site each month. The pantries are filled with everyday essentials including laundry detergent, dish liquid, body soap, hand soap, all-purpose cleaner, bleach, toothpaste, dryer sheets, lotion, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, and more. After months of preparation, we officially completed the setup and began servicing both sites on May 1st, 2025, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on April 29th. Since opening, we have proudly served over 40 families.

We are deeply grateful for the generous contributions from our backers, the support from our community, and the partnership with the amazing staff at 24hrcp, all of whom helped make this dream a reality. We are currently accepting both tangible and monetary donations from the public and are actively seeking additional grant funding to keep these pantries fully stocked and eventually expand to other areas of the city.

We are also working closely with LHA administration and faculty to ensure these services are used appropriately and benefit those truly in need.

With best regards,
Team Soap and Hope