Ville Platte Rotary Club Tuesday Hears from Dr. Hines and Casa Reps

May 17, 2016

     The Rotary Club today (Tuesday) heard from former State Senator Dr. Don Hines from Bunkie.

     The club made a $1000 donation toward Hines tele medicine benefit project to help children in Guatamala. The project is assisting some 450 neglected and abandoned children in that Central American country. His program has teamed up with physicians at U.M.C. in Lafayette with medical personnel in Guatamala.

     Hines said Governor John Bel Edwards wife, the first lady, is sponsoring a fund raising meal at the governor’s mansion for the project.

     Hines is attempting to raise $30,000 for needed medical equipment. The Ville Platte Rotary Club made a $1,000 donation to Dr. Hines for the project. Hines was invited by Rotarian Wayne Vidrine.

     Also speaking at the noon luncheon were Deidra Lewis and Gail Lark, who represent CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children. Casa advocates are trained community volunteers appointed by the courts to serve as a foster child’s voice in court.  The goal is to re-unify children with their family. It was reported that Evangeline Parish has 66 children in foster care,  that is a figure higher than in St. Landry Parish.

     CASA has an office open in Ville Platte at 615 West Magnolia. They are looking for volunteers who would be willing to be trained to visit with children in their homes and at school. The volunteers would be the eyes and ears for the court in connection with foster children.

    The two guests were the special guests of Rotarian Janice Helmer.

    In other business, Rotary Club President Mitch Fontenot announced that the annual installation of officers is scheduled for June 14.