SCHRIEVER, La. — At Living Word Church in Schriever, they're on a mission to feed those in need following Hurricane Francine.
Nine-year-old Braiden Detiveaux was lending a helping hand on Sunday after church.
“I did meals. I was scooping green beans, and then now I’m doing bags," Detiveaux said, "It feels really good, and it just feels like it’s right."
The congregation partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank, the National Guard and Mercy Chefs to dish up meals twice a day since the storm.
On Sunday evening, Pastor Scott Roten said his home was still without power.
“A lot of people you know are still struggling from Hurricane Ida and that devastation. So, they can come here. They can get a hot meal, and we can love on them, pray with them, make sure that the body of Christ is doing what we’re called to do," Roten said.
The church distributed nearly 7,000 meals in four days following Hurricane Francine. In 2021 after Hurricane Ida, they gave out 30,000 meals in three weeks.
Entergy Louisiana completed its damage assessment of Terrebonne Parish on Sunday morning. More than 80 poles, 16 transformers and a dozen trees were damaged in the hurricane.
As of Sunday evening, more than 5,000 were in the dark throughout Terrebonne Parish.
“We’re one of the last holdouts at my home, but it won’t be long," Roten said.
One hard-hit area was on Highway 24 and West Main in Gray. SLECA said it would be energized by noon on Monday.
Both Entergy Louisiana and SLECA said all of Terrebonne should have power by Monday evening.
All in all, many Terrebonne Parish residents are giving thanks that there was less damage than Ida. Meaning, a faster recovery.
“It’s just a huge collaboration. We all love each other, and we love serving together. We love this community. This is Cajun Country. It’s our home," Roten said.
And even the youngest down the bayou know, that when your community is in need, you help.
“It’s not because we’re doing it to get paid. It’s just because we’re doing it because we know that those people need it," Detiveaux said.
