We attended the 2026 Annual Appreciation Banquet for United Way of St. Landry-Evangeline on Thursday evening, June 18th in honor of the outstanding community partners we've come to know.
The evening highlighted the positive impacts and inspiration from those who serve in the community. It was also a celebration of service honoring Executive Director, Ginger Lecompte on her retirement after 19 years of serving her community.
Through investments in education, financial stability, health initiatives, and community partnerships, the organization continues to improve lives across St. Landry and Evangeline Parishes.
Investing in Youth and Education
One of United Way's most significant areas of impact is its commitment to helping children succeed from an early age. Through its support of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, more than 700 local children receive age-appropriate books that help foster a love of reading and prepare them for future academic success. The program has celebrated the delivery of more than 155,000 books and has seen 4,372 children graduate from the initiative.
United Way of St. Landry-Evangeline has also played a key role in advocating for expansion of the Imagination Library, helping ensure that every Louisiana child from birth to age five has access to the program.
The organization also actively supports the Early Learning Network of St. Landry Parish, a collaborative group of more than 40 public and private early childhood education providers working together to strengthen educational opportunities for young learners.
Helping Families Achieve Financial Stability
Creating stronger families begins with creating opportunities for financial security. United Way of St. Landry-Evangeline serves as the local board for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), a federal initiative that supports food pantries, shelters, and resource agencies throughout the region. Through this program, approximately $35,000 is allocated to eligible agencies serving residents of both, St. Landry and Evangeline Parishes.
The organization also helps families maximize their financial resources through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. In 2026, nearly 90 families received free tax preparation services, allowing them to claim valuable earned income, child care, and education tax credits that put thousands of dollars back into household budgets.
Promoting Health and Wellness
Healthy communities are essential to a thriving region, and United Way continues to support programs that improve access to healthcare, nutrition, and wellness resources. Through partnerships with Healthy St. Landry and Healthy Evangeline, the organization promotes community-wide initiatives focused on improving health outcomes and increasing access to care.
Its Feed Our Neighbor Program has provided thousands of dollars in grocery gift cards to local families facing food insecurity, helping residents meet basic nutritional needs during difficult times.
The annual FoodNet Food Drive continues to make a substantial impact, collecting approximately six tons of food in 2025 for local food pantries. Additionally, through a partnership with SingleCare, United Way of St. Landry-Evangeline has distributed prescription discount cards to more than 1,000 residents, generating over $135,000 in savings on essential medications.
United for ALICE
Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) families are households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level, but cannot afford the basic cost of living in their country. ALICE households face circumstances that make it difficult for them to achieve and maintain good health, face challenges with food insecurity, and often struggle to afford day-to-day expenses making it nearly impossible to save for emergencies or future financial goals.
Supported by, and distributed by eleven state United Way programs, including St. Landry-Evangeline United Way, the ALICE report provides relevant data about the challenges and the condition of local parishes' working poor. This project raises awareness about a huge but hidden segment of our community that is struggline to afford basic necessities.
United Way of St. Landry-Evangeline recognizes the importance of advocating for policies and legislative initiatives that improve the quality of life for ALICE households. Throughout the year, Unite Way has engaged in discussions and advocacy efforts surrounding issues such as gun safety, domestic violence prevention, and childcare accessibility, all of which have significant impacts on the stability and well-being of our communities.
United Together Brings Partnership Together
Over the past year, St. Landry-Evangeline United Way has expanded its impact in meaningful ways bringing together nonprofit organizations, businesses, volunteers, and community leaders to address some of the region’s most pressing needs. United Way of St. Landry-Evangeline has helped support numerous organizations that provide critical services throughout the region during the COVID-19. These partnerships include:
The Acosta Foundation (Evangeline) - Helped with making and supplying high-quality masks during COVID-19 pandemic.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana -delivery of more than 50,000 meals to local children and families.
Building Better Families -Provided "Meals 2 Go Drive-Thru" to approximately 350 children of St. Landry Parish, and partnered with the city of Opelousas, Big Brown Cares, and NuNu's Creole Tradition during COVID-19 pandemic.
Evangeline Community Action - provided safe care packages for senior citizens.
The Extra Mile Region IV, Inc. -provided essentials to foster and birth families experiencing loss of income due to the pandemic, including food, school supplies, uniforms, and activity supplies during quarantine.
Family Strong Foundation - mental health counseling and wellness programs.
Hope Alliance - created a "student emergency fund" for eligible college students from St. Landry or Evangeline parishes to assist with immediate and essential expenses.
I.C.O.N.S. Foodbank - provided citizens in need of extra food resources due to lack of funds as a result of work restrictions and unemployment during COVID-19 pandemic.
Just One Word, Inc. - provided a "modified' summer camp program for students across St. Landry Parish that focuesd on family participation, including a family activitiy guide that presents physical, literary, math in the kitchen, and family bonding.
Brain Art Alliance - provided art supplies for projects that support victims of tramatic brain injuries.
Community Baby Shower- provided in-kind donations of diapers and wipes.
CASA of St. Landry-Evangeline - provided funding for captial improvements during transition to new facility.
Educational support initiatives in schools throughout St. Landry and Evangeline Parishes including Northwest High (Evangeline), St. Landry Charter School, Palmetto Elementary, and Pine Prairie High School.
Assisted inommunity programs such as GGPALS Corporation, Veterans Point, Thensted Center, Refinery Mission, and St. Landry Community Fridge providing emergency food and shelter funding.
These partnerships demonstrate United Way's ability to identify community needs and mobilize resources quickly, ensuring support reaches those who need it most.
