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LAPLACE – “Be Safe, Shelter in Place” – It’s a simple message that can make a difference to those encouraged to hunker down at home and those who work around the clock fighting the COVID-19 pandemic from the front lines.

Byron Francis Jr. and Anitra Blue-Francis designed a T-shirt with the shelter in place message above the image of a turtle seeking solace in its shell. Within a week, the T-shirt sales had raised more than $1,500 to benefit the community.

“We are using the proceeds to purchase items that were requested by those who are on the front lines, mainly in the hospitals,” Anitra Blue-Francis said, citing disinfectant wipes and personal protective equipment as materials needed to help patients locally.

With medical professionals working long hours without time to break for lunch, snacks are also in high demand.

The Francis family plans to distribute supplies to hospitals in the River Parishes and the surrounding region.

Byron Francis said proceeds can also be used to help families that have been impacted by widespread layoffs.

“It’s a very uncertain time, an unfortunate time for a lot of people right now,” Francis said. “A lot of people have been laid off. There are doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists working around the clock to maintain people’s health and save lives. We want to be a part of the healing and part of assisting people to get back on their feet.”

The “Stay Safe, Shelter in Place” T-shirt also raises awareness of social distancing in the community. Byron Francis has seen classmates and friends lose their lives to COVID-19. Here today, gone tomorrow. One was only 37 years old.

“What kind of sparked this within me is that, per capita in St. John the Baptist Parish, we are not doing very well at all with this virus,” Francis said. “The other purpose of this T-shirt is to encourage people to take this seriously and shelter in place.”

To order a T-shirt, please contact Byron Francis or Anitra Blue-Francis on Facebook. Orders can also be directed to Instagram @yourfinancialadvisher. Direct messages should contain the sizes and the amount of shirts desired.

Adult sizes are $20 for one shirt and $30 for two shirts. Youth sizes are $15 for one shirt and $25 for two. Payment can be directed electronically via Venmo @besafeshelterinplace (Byron Francis). The Francis family can deliver shirts in the local area.

Some shirts have been shipped to friends, family and supporters out of state.

“Our objective is for this initiative to be felt around the world,” Anitra Blue-Francis said.