COUNCIL AWARD FOR WORKPLACE SAFETY 
Rapides Council received a check for $1,840 from Louisiana Workers Compensation Corporation (LWCC)  awarded by the LWCC Board of Directors to selected policyholders based on their financial performance and safety record. This is the seventh consecutive year the Council has received the award.

“The current dividend is a monetary reflection of your loyalty and dedication to LWCC’s commitment to workplace safety,” said Kristin W. Wall, LWCC president.

LWCC has paid dividends in the amount of more than $136 million dollars over the past seven years.  They also lowered the overall rate by 53% since the company’s began in 1992..

 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Micky Gassiott, president, CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital Auxiliary is ready to welcome men and women as volunteers.  When one becomes a volunteer one is can also be an RSVP volunteer.  RSVP provides automobile insurance, mileage and two annual recognition banquets to honor RSVP volunteers.

 “Volunteers work in the Gift Shop, at the front desk, in the surgery waiting room, ICU waiting room and at the desk in the Texas Avenue Cancer Center, “ Mrs. Gassiott said.

There are currently 95 members who work three hours a day.  For more information call Mrs. Gassiott at 487-4586 or 730-3920.

 

GRANDPOWER: A NEW SUPPORT PROGRAM
More and more grandparents and relative caregivers as raising children for members of their family.  According to the 2000 Census , over six million caregivers in America are raising the next generation of children.  In Rapides parish, over 4,800 grandparents and relatives are caring for their grandchildren or relatives under the age of 18 years.

“Reasons contributing to why parents are not raising their own children include substance abuse, incarnation, mental illness, child abuse, death, domestic violence and abandonment or state removal of the children,” said Susan Freundlich, founder of the local group. “However, caregivers did not plan on raising these children at a time in their life when their age, finances, health issues, lack of resources and fixed incomes pose many problems.”

Caregivers are in need of support, guidance, resources and services to assist them in continuing to raise and stabilize families where parents are absent.  The Grandpower Support Group is designed to help meet the needs of those caregivers in these circumstances.

Mrs. Freundlich said, “Group services include monthly support group meetings with lunch provided, professional guest speakers, education information, counseling, crisis intervention, resources navigation and legal assistance.’

The Grandpower Support Group meets on the third Thursday of each month at the G. A. Mangum Center, 2817 Bayou Rapides Avenue in Alexandria.  Meetings are held in the  Family Room from 11 am – 1 pm.

Call 442-0846 or 623-2599 for more information.