Outfitting Oklahoma - Great Project!

"OUTFITTING OKLAHOMA”

A project conceived and developed by Mary E. Le Blanc of Westwego who is a member of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (a professional organization of key women educators in all 50 states and 18 countries.) Her idea was to help meet the need of fellow organization members, their families and communities in the area of Moore, OK. In the 18-mile span of the tornado destruction, 7 schools were lost. It was very clear that their need was great. How could that need be met, was the question. Faith in God, put everything into place.

Sandy Arabie, owner of Arabie Trucking volunteered to provide an 18-wheeler, driver, and fuel to transport the boxes. Joe Peoples of the Westwego Police Department volunteered to handle storing the boxes and loading the truck. Moya Collins of NOLA Box Co. provided hundreds of boxes and strapping tape.

Great professional and civic organizations, businesses, churches, families, carnival krewes, private schools, and individuals contributed various components necessary for the project’s success. Westwego Civic Association, True Vine Baptist Church, and Banter Fraternity gave the use of their halls to man the tremendous effort of tireless volunteers who worked often 15-hour days to sort, and prepare the individual care packages that will be handed out to individuals upon arrival in Oklahoma. Many people offered their time and resources to the project. Audrey Labiche, Betty Landry, Vera Vedros, Sandra Smith, and Loretta Brehm, all senior citizens, worked daily to fill the interior of the sometimes endless interior of the 53’ long, 10’ high, and 8’wide truck.

Project director, Mary Le Blanc said, “ May God richly bless all of the people who came together in this effort, and the people in Oklahoma who will be the recipients. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

The anxiously awaited truck will arrive on Sunday morning. You can follow the trip on Facebook under Lagniappe from the Bayou, Arabie Trucking Services, Outfitting Oklahoma. Or, you can track the trip on email at marabie37@yahoo.com

If you missed out on participating in the project, you can send a check to “Moore Public Schools Donation Center/ Tornado Relief Center”, c/o 250 Louisiana Street, Westwego, LA, 70094-4114. The contact person there will be able to replace more items for the schools that was destroyed.