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LAPLACE — Students in Southeast Louisiana have a fresh batch of school supplies for the school year, thanks to Louisiana Federal Credit Union (FCU) and its Pack the Pirogue initiative.
The credit union delivered pirogues filled with 8,243 school supplies items to 11 classrooms in southeast Louisiana. The recipients were nominated by community members during Louisiana FCU’s annual Pack the Pirogue supplies drive.

With inflation driving up the price of everything, parents are thinking twice before making purchases, even with essential school supplies. According to a national survey from JLL Retail Research, more than half of families in the U.S. claimed to have cut back on school spending this year.

“Families are experiencing enough financial burden as it is,” said Rhonda Hotard, president and CEO of Louisiana FCU. “This is one small way for us to help ease the pressure.”

Ryshique Williams, a teacher at East St. John High School, says many students come to school without the supplies they need to succeed. When her classroom was chosen to receive a pirogue, she called it a “huge blessing.”

“This will boost the student’s confidence,” said Williams. “They won’t have to worry about where they will get a pencil from, or where they will get paper. They will have what they need.”

Pack the Pirogue attracted a record number of classroom nominations in 2022 and received thousands of donations from the local community.

“Our members, our business partners and our staff stepped up and made the school year special for so many kids,” said Hotard.

Louisiana FCU donated pirogues to classrooms at:

• Donaldsonville Primary School
• East St. John High School
• W. Carver Early Learning Center
• Lakeside Primary School
• Lake Pontchartrain Elementary
• Lakewood Elementary
• Lutcher High School
• Natalbany Middle School
• Ponchatoula High School
• Raceland Upper Elementary.
• James High School