PACK THE BUS

Men on a mission: Volunteers brave winds, seas to bring home vessel, honor veterans
November 14, 2018
Wayne Naquin
November 15, 2018
Men on a mission: Volunteers brave winds, seas to bring home vessel, honor veterans
November 14, 2018
Wayne Naquin
November 15, 2018

Partnership between a local bank and a coalition of charities has made possible a drive for supplies to benefit children in need, in both Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.

Synergy Bank and the United Way of South Louisiana have utilized Bayou Region community resources to collect thousands of school supplies, which will be delivered to local schools.

The initiative was dubbed “Pack The Bus,” and relied on widely located donation bins for materials.


“The ‘Pack the Bus’ school supply drive is one of the many ways Synergy Bank is working to help our community,” Jerry Ledet, Synergy Bank President and CEO, said. “By providing students the tools they need to succeed, we can help our children and teachers have a successful school year.”

Community members were encouraged to drop new school supplies into bins set up at businesses throughout Terrebonne and Lafourche. The donations were sorted and sent to the Terrebonne and Lafourche Parish School Boards to disperse among the elementary schools.

“Thank you to everyone who donated. The school supplies that were collected will definitely help the students become successful in the classroom,” United Way Executive Director Alina Merlos said. “With the right tools, these kids are better prepared, and that will help them excel in the coming year.”


“We have done a rough estimate of the total cost of the supplies, and it seems to be around $8,000,” Terrebonne Parish Homeless Education Liaison Kwanzaa Bolden said. “Thank you so much for this great support of the students in Terrebonne Parish. Many students benefited from this great contribution.”

“The Pack the Bus campaign that Synergy Bank (and United Way) organized will ensure not only homeless children, but all disadvantaged children in Lafourche Parish schools are provided with essential school supplies to meet the needs in maintaining their academic success,” Lafourche Parish Homeless Liaison Quentina Brown said.

Among the business that aided the effort by serving as a drop-off location, donating supplies, or donating in-kind services, were Bayou Country Children’s Museum, Bayou Industrial Group, Cannata’s, Chick-fil-A, ConocoPhillips, 1st Franklin Financial of Thibodaux, Fletcher Technical Community College, Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce, Infinity Kids Developmental Activity Center, John Deere, KCIL-FM 96.7, Kiwanis Club of Houma, Lafourche Parish Chamber of Commerce, Lafourche Parish Libraries, LOOP, Marine Inspections, Mike Bruno’s Bayou Country Harley-Davidson, Nicholls Alumni Federation, Pelican Waste & Debris, Pitre Wealth Management, Raising Cane’s, Rouses Markets, South Central Louisiana Human Services, South Louisiana Bank, Stephanie Hebert Insurance Agency, Synergy Bank, Terrebonne General Medical Center, Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government, Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce, Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, Trapp Cadillac, and United Way for South Louisiana.


Parents whose children need supplies can contact Kwanzaa Bolden in Terrebonne at 985-879-6400 ext. 264; In Lafourche Parish the contact is Quentina Brown 985-532-2508.

PACK THE BUS