by Jeanni Ritchie
Dozens of organizations showed up to support Central Louisiana residents on March 8 in Alexandria, providing resources and swag for attendees both at the Community Resource Fair in the Alexandria Mall and the Junior League’s Kidzfest at Frank O. Hunter Park.
Organizations were on hand to share more about their programs and answer questions about the services they provide. Whether your needs or physical, legal, medical, or practical, they all affect your mental health. That’s exactly why these organizations were founded- to ensure total well-being for all.
I stopped by Kidzfest first, playing games from the City of Alexandria’s mobile recreation trailer outside with the kids and Scrappy, Rapides Regional Medical Center’s mascot. Inside, the Junior League had free pizza and drinks along with a table filled with prizes that each child could select from after attending each booth in the gymnasium.
Participants in Kidzfest were: Children’s Advocacy Network, Chick-fil-A Jackson & Macarthur, Bloom In Session Psychotherapy & Consulting, Cabrini Pediatric Therapy Center, Acadian Ambulance, Rapides Parish School Board, Regions Bank, Food Bank of Central Louisiana, Louisiana Healthcare Connections, Aetna Better Health, Rapides Regional Medical Center, Louisiana Community Care, Alexandria Police Department, Alexandria Emergency Hospital, Little Caesars, Shannon DjShan Morris Fuselier, Sign Gypsies, Lombardi Party Rentals, and the Rapides Parish Library.
I headed to the mall when I left Kidzfest for the Community Resource Fair, visiting with some organizations I’d previously featured and meeting several new ones. I believe it’s vital that the community is aware of each of these organizations. They are here, after all, to help US!
Organizations with booths at the Community Fair were: CenLa Healthy Start, Cenla Medication Access Program, Acadiana Legal Service Corporation, Children’s Advocacy Network, Central Louisiana Area Health Education Center, Eckerd Connects, Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response (STAR), Central LA Human Services District, Cenla Christian Childcare Center, PFLAG Alexandria, Avoyelles Community and Youth Coalition, and Alexandria Housing Authority.
Thank you to all the wonderful individuals who make up each of these organizations. Your dedication to the citizens of the community is much appreciated and your hard work is not unnoticed.
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. For more information on any of these organizations or to have your community nonprofit featured in a future article, email jeanniritchie54@gmail.
