Good Samaritans

by Angie Kay Dilmore

We’ve all seen them. Those angels in the community who work tirelessly to help others, behind the scenes, trying not to be noticed, but with big hearts and a love of their neighbors. In this annual feature, we spotlight people and organizations who make our communities a better place for kids, senior citizens, men and women, and hurricane victims half a country away. Our hope is that their stories of selflessness will inspire others to find ways to make a positive difference in the world.

The 100 Man Men’s Breakfast

In 1993, approximately 20 men at First Presbyterian Church Lake Charles met for breakfast to discuss the plight of families with absent fathers and the effect on children and school performance. That first meeting was organized by George Swift. Also in attendance was Chester Miller, Mark Judson, Lenn Knapp, K.B. Lake, Mark James, and others. The group decided to meet again for breakfast to further discuss these problems and to raise awareness of the issues. And thus began a 20+ year Lake Charles tradition.

The breakfasts were held on the first Saturday of each month at 1801 Second Ave., the original home of First Presbyterian Church Lake Charles and later owned by Greater St. Mary’s Baptist Church. The building was severely damaged in Hurricane Laura and is currently vacant, so for the past several years, the men have been meeting at the American Legion Post 1.

Miller says the breakfast in those early years quickly gained a reputation for being the best breakfast in town and more men brought more men. The goal became to achieve 100 men at one breakfast. Jack Miller became membership director and began issuing name tags to attendees. He also coined the name 100 Man Men’s Breakfast. To track attendance, Judson suggested they collect $1 from each man. Proceeds and any leftover food were (and continue to be) donated to the Calcasieu Women’s Shelter. The group reached their goal of 100 men in February 2018 and they still draw large crowds.

Judson’s role is to secure the guest speaker for each breakfast, usually a leader within the community. Speakers have included elected officials, McNeese coaches, and prominent businesspersons. Judson also serves as emcee and opens every meeting by greeting the group and saying, “We are an ecumenical gathering of men. We are multi denominational, non-denominational, man off the street denominational gathering of men. Our purpose is to have a good breakfast, good fellowship and a good program and we hope that we may hear something, see something or do something that will increase our faith and remind us of the infinite love, grace, and mercy we receive from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Miller oversees the food. He says the menu has varied over the years, as the cooks started introducing some of their favorite recipes, such as Strawberry Shortcake Waffles, Crème Brulle French Toast, and Black Walnut Pancakes with Peach Compote. Scrambled eggs are a mainstay, and they also offer Jazzed Eggs (elevated with peppers and onions). Also on the menu are grits, bacon, potatoes O’Brien, biscuits, milk gravy, OJ and of course, coffee. Funding for the food comes from donations by individuals, groups, or companies. The average cost of groceries per breakfast is $600.

The Men’s Breakfast, as it is more commonly called, meets on the first Saturday of the month at 8 a.m. All men and boys are welcome. Admission – $1.

L.O.V.E. Community Mission in DeQuincy

L.O.V.E. Community Mission, which stands for “Loving Our Very Own Elderly/Disabled”, is a non-profit organization based in DeQuincy, La. It was founded in 2012 by Gwendolyn Simien Chapper along with co-founders Cathy Dixon Williams, Alice Pullam Danclar, and Patricia Frank Senegal. These women recognized a need in their community to help elderly citizens who live alone. “Seniors who live alone don’t have anyone to check on them or help them with their daily routine,” says Danclar.

After a brainstorming session over lunch at then-Fausto’s, the founders decided to talk with local clergy about solutions. Members of several congregations volunteered to help. Danclar, age 75, says the program pairs a senior with a volunteer who checks on the senior twice a day and meets the needs of the senior, be it grocery shopping, a doctor visit, or an errand to the post office. Services, such as local transportation, yard work, handy work, i.e. ramp building, resources referrals, and senior awareness, are offered free of charge. “We mail monthly occasional cards, contribute to our local Senior Bingo, senior housing facilities, nursing homes and other local senior programs,” adds Danclar. Currently, they have 29 volunteers and eight local churches who support the cause.

The Mission has also planned events for DeQuincy seniors. They’ve hosted a yearly May Rally at the DeQuincy Railroad Museum and a social each Valentine’s Day. They take their seniors baskets of goodies at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Danclar says there have not been any events since 2020 due to the pandemic. “However, we are operational with our main assignment: Loving Our Very Own Elderly.”

Danclar adds that their greatest need is a place where seniors can meet daily and socialize. The storms of 2020 destroyed the JCE Center, which had served as a senior center in DeQuincy. “We are hopeful that the Pioneer, Rosenwald, DeQuincy Colored, & Grand Avenue Alumni Association (PRD&G) can acquire the former school property located at 502 South Grand Avenue in DeQuincy, which we plan to restore into a community center. This will allow our Seniors of DeQuincy to be active in exercise, crafts and fellowship.”

For more information, follow L.O.V.E. Community Mission on Facebook.

Operation Pack the Plane

When Sulphur’s Southland Field Airport Manager Tim LeFleur realized the devastation inflicted by Hurricane Helene in late September, he acted quickly to coordinate a relief effort. With Southwest Louisiana’s past experiences with hurricanes and knowing what it’s like to be on the receiving end of others’ goodwill, he wanted to pay it forward to the people struggling with recovery in northwest North Carolina. LeFleur asked Pat and Liz Sewell, both pilots who own a larger private plane, if they’d be willing to fly relief supplies to Asheville. The couple didn’t hesitate. “That’s why we have the plane,” says Pat. “We live in Big Lake. We’ve lived through five hurricanes here. We know what it’s like. If we could help, we wanted to.”

Monsignor James Gaddy with the Diocese of Lake Charles connected LeFleur with members at Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Cashiers, N.C., who would oversee the distribution of the donations. They shared that storm victims were in need of cool weather clothing. LeFleur reached out to Friend Ships, a local volunteer international relief organization, and they donated over a thousand high-quality hooded sweatshirts. Golden Nugget Casino donated boxes of cookware and folding chairs. Also on the plane were blankets and pillows. Local donors contributed to the costs of the mission. And the Asheville airport gave them a discount on the handling fee and gas for the plane.

Liz says she’s seen plenty of major storms, from Hurricane Michael in 2018 in her hometown of Panama City to Hurricane Laura in 2020, and yet she says the destruction in North Carolina is so much more devastating than anything she’s ever experienced. “They still have not found 100 people [as of early November]. They had no forewarning of what was coming and couldn’t have imagined the devastation. But just like here in Southwest Louisiana, the ones left behind are resilient; they’re helping their neighbors, friends and strangers.”

AWEsome Kids Association

Since 2004, Tara and Paul Warner have provided opportunities for recreational sports for the special-needs community. Buddy Soccer is held each September-October; Buddy Basketball in February-March (both at Lake Charles Ward 3 Recreation Power Center). Buddy Softball is held in Sulphur at SPAR in April-May. A non-profit organization, Artists & Athletes With Exceptionalities, aka AWEsome Kids, was formally founded in 2005 with Buddy Softball.

The organization began with the Warners’ daughter, Lanie. “When she was born with spina bifida, we were told she would never be able to play sports due to her disability,” says Tara. “But starting at age four, Lanie played in the Moss Bluff Buddy Ball league for one or two seasons. She wanted to play with her friends. In 2004 we moved to Sulphur and I was determined that kids with disabilities should have a buddy ball program in their community. Another parent and I approached SPAR about allowing us use of the fields. Former Sulphur Mayor Chris Duncan, then city councilman, helped us make the connections we needed to get started in Sulphur. He was a huge advocate for buddy sports up until his death.”

AWEsome Kids expanded to Lake Charles in 2008 with Buddy Soccer when Ward 3 Recreation Executive Director Kip Texada volunteered with the program. Buddy Basketball was established around 2009. Ward 3 Athletic Director Nick LeDay also champions the program with his support and role as a Buddy. The organization has grown exponentially through the Warners’ efforts. That first year there were nine kids – today there are over 50 participants, ages 5-21. The program provides a sense of community and belonging to individuals with special needs who desire to engage both with organized sports and their peers. It allows for the spirit of competition but focuses on fun and fellowship.

“It is a big commitment, but the kids keep us going!” Tara says. “We feel like this organization was placed on our hearts and is our calling from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We love these kids and look forward to seeing them each season. We love watching them grow and have fun together. Jesus is the reason we can continue this program as we work full time and rely on volunteers each season to help our kids play and he makes a way each year to make it all happen. It is our desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus through Awesome Kids.”

To participate, children must have a disability that prevents them from playing regular sports. Volunteers, called Buddies, must be 10 years or older. There is no fee for the players. “We operate on the generosity of our sponsors and donations from friends, family and the community,” Tara says. “Buddy Soccer and Basketball is sponsored by Ward 3 Recreation and Buddy Softball is sponsored by Raising Canes Sulphur. Our Buddy Soccer program is run with the help of the directors of Calcasieu Soccer Club.”

For more information, email awesome.association@yahoo.com or see their Facebook page, Awesome Association.

Jace Peterson Pro Pro Classic Benefiting Big Brothers & Big Sisters

by Matt Dye

“There’s some competitors here,” Major League Baseball (MLB) player Jace Peterson says as he surveys the banquet room inside of the Horseshoe Casino. “The baseball guys love to compete; the fishing guys love to compete. We’re looking forward to seeing which team puts up the biggest catch.”
During the first week of November, Lake Charles played host to the first (and hopefully annual) Jace Peterson Pro Pro Classic. The event pairs MLB players with Pro Anglers.
The event started with a Pairing Party at the Horseshoe Casino on November 5, where teams of MLB players and Pro Anglers were paired up by auction. There was also a silent auction with signed memorabilia and other items up for grabs.

The teams then headed out the next day for a two-day fishing event at Grosse Savanne, where they all tried to reel in the biggest catch.
Major Leaguers such as Ned Yost, Jonny Gomes, Andrew Vaughn and Hunter Renfroe joined Major League Fishers such as Greg Vinson, Russ Lane, and Alton Jones, Jr. to scour the waters of Southwest Louisiana to help raise money for Big Brother & Big Sisters
For Peterson, a Moss Bluff native who’s played 11 seasons in MLB across seven different teams, it’s all about giving back. He started his career at Hamilton Christian before attending McNeese, where he played both football and baseball.

In the offseason, Peterson loves coming home to hunt and fish, but the devastation of the Pandemincane of 2020 stayed implanted in his mind.
“After the hurricanes, there’s still some places that you drive around and there’s still a lot of damage,” Peterson says. “But over those four years we’ve made a lot of progress. The city’s growing and the community is starting to rebound. So whatever I can do to help bring publicity to Lake Charles and help everyone grow, that’s what we’re trying to do with this event.”

To do this, Peterson partnered with Matt Kinzer, who created the Pro Pro Classic three years ago to raise money for local charities. Kinzer, who’s been involved in baseball for over 30 years as a player, agent, and Major League scout, is excited to see the event grow to more places. When Peterson asked Kinzer if they could do an event in Lake Charles, there was no hesitation.

“The baseball players want to be pro anglers,” Kinzer says. “And the anglers want to be pro baseball players, so it’s been a really cool mesh.”
“Obviously, Louisiana is a great spot for the outdoors, fishing and hunting,” Peterson continues. “I wanted to bring something back to Lake Charles that was different and that you don’t get to see a lot. Being able to raise the money for Big Brothers & Big Sisters and all the things that they do was a no-brainer for me.”
When Peterson looks to the future of this event, he points out the great untapped potential of the saltwater fishing in the area. “If this thing continues to grow and the city loves it, we can do something with the saltwater and the fresh water to make it even bigger.”

As for his baseball future, Peterson is still undecided. “That’s a great question. I’ve been enjoying the time with the family and have another one on the way. Getting excited about that, but right now, I’m in a good spot, and kinda leaving it at that for now.”

Good spot indeed, as he and teammate Greg Vinson brought in the best two-day haul, winning the event.

But the real winners are SWLA and Big Brothers & Sisters.