Pictured left to right: Marshall Simien, Lake Charles City Council - District A, Elcie Guillory, former State Representative (1993-2007), Calvin Collins, Police Juror - District 2, Elizabeth Griffin, Police Juror - District 3, Claude Syas, Police Juror - District 4, and Lavurtha August, Lake Charles City Council - District B.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opening the Allen P. August Multi-Purpose Center Annex was held today at the newly constructed facility in Lake Charles.

Members of the Police Jury, elected officials and honored guests attended the event, including Lake Charles City Councilwoman Luvertha August, wife of the facility’s namesake, former Police Juror Allen P. August, Sr.

The new facility will house two programs currently offered to residents in Calcasieu Parish by the Office of Community Services: the Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Food for Seniors program. LIHEAP is a Federally funded block grant program that assists low-income households, particularly those that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy, in meeting their immediate home energy needs. Approximately 2,000 residents currently participate in this program.

The Food for Seniors Program is designed to reduce the fear of hunger for thousands of senior citizens by eliminating their necessity to choose between life-supporting medications or food. Each month, the program provides a box containing approximately $50.00 worth of groceries to 3,200 citizens. The Calcasieu Parish Office of Community Services operates Food for Seniors in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Archdiocese of New Orleans, and Louisiana Office of Public Health.

The Allen P. August Multi-Purpose Center Annex was an 8-year project that included funding from the State’s Capital Outlay Program. Former State Representative Elcie Guillory was instrumental in securing these funds and attended the ceremony. “I’m excited to have been a part of this project during my time in the legislature,” said Guillory. “I know that citizens in Calcasieu Parish-especially many of our seniors- will find this new facility to be of great benefit to them.”

For more information about the Allen P. August, Sr. Multi-Purpose Center Annex or the facility’s related programs, contact the Office of Community Services at (337) 721-4020.

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