EDGARD — Several years ago, a group of concerned citizens got together to form the West St. John Stakeholders, a non-profit organization whose goal is to help educate the children on the West Bank of St. John the Baptist Parish.

The group has forwarded that mission with its annual Education, Employment and Empowerment Festival.

This year’s festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at West St. John High School.

The free event will feature presentations and exhibits on education and career choices in culinary arts, industry, law, film, tourism, vocational-technical and community colleges, medicine and health.

“We just want to rally around the students of the West Bank and help get them excited about education and the start of school coming up,” said Stakeholder Joy Banner.

There also will be a food court with free hot dogs, jambalaya and soft drinks, and a “Kids Korner” with balloons, games and face painting.

“It’s a day for the whole community to come together,” Banner said. “We encourage everyone to come out and join us.”

In addition to the exhibits, there will be booths for vendors and non-profit organizations from throughout the area offering information on the various resources available to children and families in the community.

School supplies will be distributed at 2:30 p.m. to children with an ID from a West Bank school.

The organization also will honor three West St. John Education heroes from Edgard.

This year’s recipients are the late Nora Pierre, a longtime St. John Parish educator and community activist; the late Eddie “Papa Duke” Edwards, a pioneering band manager, drummer and vocalist; and Russell Jack Jr., who served 14 years on the St. John Parish School Board before resigning to become the Registrar of Voters.

For more information on the event, call 225-206-0257.