CAA holding membership meeting

“A Change is Going to Come,” is the theme of this year’s Community Action Agency’s 47th Annual Membership Meeting to be held in the Pavilion at Cypress Bayou Casino and Hotel at 6:30 p.m., Friday.
St. Mary CAA reports it has endured much change over the past year, including budget cuts, which led to reduction of services and staff. In spite of the difficulties, the agency has remained committed to providing assistance to those in most need.
“Our agency has proven over and over that we remain that beacon of light and hope to those facing insurmountable barriers,” Chief Executive Officer Almetra Franklin said. “For 47 years St. Mary CAA has been the cornerstone to helping lead families out of impoverished conditions and into lives of self-sufficiency.”
The agency continues to create and expand various services and programs including serving victims of human trafficking.
“Currently, we are providing case management services to 10 clients and their families,” Franklin said.
The agency’s weatherization crew continues to make its presence felt in eight parishes in South Louisiana and to date has completed more than 100 homes in the past year.
Nearly 100 people have completed and graduated from the agency’s homebuyers classes and more than 30 others graduated from the culinary program. The culinary program was also a part of the agency’s Community Foundation grant, in which 60 clients who were affected by the BP Oil spill received a variety of services, including job retraining, emergency funding for rentals and utility assistance.
The agency’s Head Start program is thriving as staff reviews and assesses School Readiness goals based on the program’s assessment system data. Also, currently three quarters of the agency teachers have bachelor’s degrees and several others are working towards acquiring theirs.
Finally, Franklin said, the Housing Department has been working diligently to ensure that community residents in need have safe, adequate housing available. The agency, which has developed several housing subdivisions, is in the process of selling the last two modular homes in the Morgan City Heights subdivision, and completing two of three modular homes in the Easy Street subdivision and partnering with Louisiana Housing Corp. to finance potential homebuyers.
“We are excited to celebrate another successful year, and informing our community residents and officials of our accomplishments” Franklin said.
This year’s honorees during the annual meeting will be local and surrounding media outlets.
Seating is still available; and ads are still being accepted from vendors. Persons can still sponsor a table or sponsor a group of senior citizens. Tickets are $30 and $25 for senior citizens. Anyone wanting to sponsor a table or a group of elderly citizens may call Summer Jones at 337-828-5703 for more information.