ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / August 5, 2000

LAPLACE – Thanks to Preferred Companies and the St. John the BaptistParish Sheriff’s Office, 10 elderly people will work, sleep and eat in cool comfort for the rest of the summer.

Celebrating their first annual Community Day, Preferred Companies donated 10 window unit air conditioners to elderly citizens of St. John Parish.”We just thought it was time that we gave back to the community, “said Penny Freeman, CEO of Preferred Companies, a home mortgage company.

More than 40 elderly people showed up for the ceremony at Preferred Companies main office on Belle Terre Boulevard Wednesday afternoon.

The people who were given the air conditioners were brought to the ceremony by limousine, provided by Al’s Royal Coach and Limousine Service of LaPlace.

The recipients of the window units were picked out by the St. John Council onAging, which also transported in other elderly residents to show their support.

Everyone at the party was treated to hot dogs, soft drinks and cake. Also,everybody received alarm clocks and flowers as appreciation for their attendance. Freeman also handed out door prizes to the elderly audience.By the end of the ceremony old and young alike looked like they needed those air conditioners. The ceremony took place in the company’s parking lot, andthe hot sun was starting to take its toll on the participants. But the elderlyaudience members were happy to be there and wanted to thank everybody for their time and effort.

Delores Gardener of Reserve was very happy to be getting an air conditioner.

“This will be wonderful,” said Gardener. “It gets so hot in my living room, thatI can’t go in there during the summer.”Honoria Williams, another lucky recipient, agreed. “I spend most of my time inthe living room, and that is where I’m putting mine. I really, really appreciatethis.”On Monday, Chief Deputy Harold Kliebert of the Sheriff’s Office will get trustees to install the window units in the winners’ houses.

Freeman hopes to do this every year and wants Community Day to become an annual event.

“I want to try and get other local businesses together and make it a big event,” said Freeman.

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