Lafayette Kid News Update #1

Lafayette Kid News Update #1

by | Feb 13, 2026 | Blog, Lafayette Kid News

Dear Community,

We are beyond excited to share that the 1st issue of Lafayette Kid News was released on February 1st!!! This first issue featured our creator and editor, Audrey Dupre, as the Kid of the Quarter, along with a letter from the editor sharing how this newspaper came to be through the 24 Hour Citizen Project and generous backers. We also had a 4th grade class contribute poems, a boy submitted a recipe for French toast, lots of sports stories, a gallery of artwork, an advice column, funny jokes, some holiday specific puzzles and games, community service stories, and a full calendar of events. The local talent and creativity of our youngest citizens was on full display.

Currently, this newspaper is available to pick up or view at your local public libraries, Children’s Museum of Acadiana, Lafayette Science Museum, Sunday’s Soda Fountain, Southern Speech, Coreil Orthodontics, Delarue Dance Centre, and several LPSS elementary and middle schools. We are continuing to expand to other locations – so stay tuned to our social media for updates.

Since beginning this project, we have learned so much and continue to learn new things daily. Printing and shipping 1500 copies of this first issue cost $1500. We are currently working on finding a local printing company to decrease the shipping and overall cost. We have also begun discussing advertisement and sponsorship opportunities with several kid-friendly, local businesses to keep this newspaper going long term. Lastly, we are working on establishing the LKN as a nonprofit organization.

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and we are so thankful for everyone’s kind words, encouragement, and praise. This project would not be possible without the kids submitting content and backers support. The Lafayette community is filled with incredible individuals and we are so happy to call this place home.

Be on the lookout for our next 3 issues being released on May 1st, August 1st, and November 1st and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

Sincerely,
Audrey, Luke, & Layne Dupre
Team Lafayette Kid News

Team F.O.O.D. Update #1

Team F.O.O.D. Update #1

by | Feb 12, 2026 | Blog, F.O.O.D.

Dear Community:

Team F.O.O.D. started the 24 Hour Citizen Project with a big goal in mind: establish three more free fridges and pantries (otherwise known as Freedges) in the Acadiana area. With the help of local resources and the funding provided by 24HCP, we were actually able to set out FOUR new locations for community fridges! Amazing!

The process of setting up a new fridge is quite lengthy. First, we have to find a willing sponsor to allow F.O.O.D. to place a fridge on their property. We must come to an agreement and establish guidelines with new fridge hosts, and line everything up legally for the fridge, structures, and hosts to be protected. Then, we must gather all the materials and set up a date with contractors to build shelters for the fridges. Lastly, it’s build day… we like to make it a big event when a new fridge is constructed, because it is a huge gift to the community!

Fridge #1 will be the Christian Life Center Community Fridge, located outside the church at 411 Verot School Road. This fridge will be run in part by The Brandon Mason Project, another wonderful local nonprofit. So far, we have had a fridge donated by Foodies of Lafayette, and we are scouting for materials. The build day is set for March 28… make a note! More details to follow. Side note: The Brandon Mason Project would like to involve the youth in decorating the fridge enclosure. We happen to love that idea!

Fridge #2 will be located in Breaux Bridge at Raccoon Oak Farms, which has all the supplies ready to go and is just awaiting their contractor. The build date is still to be determined, but we are aiming to have this fridge up and running before Festival Internationale 2026.
Fridge #3 will be at Grand Coteau’s Thensted Center, at 268 Church St. We will be reaching out to continue the process once the first two fridges are built, in early April.
Fridge #4 does not have a set location just yet, but it will be located as closely as possible to the Evangeline Thruway; any blocks of Willow, Moss, and the Thruway motel streets that would allow for safe pedestrian passage would be ideal.

Those are all the updates we have for now, Community, but rest assured that Team F.O.O.D. is working tirelessly to see these fridges come to life. Thank you for your love and support, check in with you soon!

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.