Giving Back: Zachary Charity League
Oct 22, 2024 01:46PM ● By Lauren PopeYou never know where you might find the women of the Zachary Charity League. One day, they’re packing food for their Snack Packs 4 Kids initiative, the next, they’re doing some landscaping somewhere around town. They were once even called upon to repaint fire hydrants, an assignment they reconsidered when a burly fireman walked in coated in muck and told them he’d just been out doing the same.
The ZCL was founded in 2014 by a group of women who all served together on the local American Cancer Society board. “We wanted to start something that kept the money local,” explains Laura-Kate Amrhein. Their first initiative was supporting a local pediatric cardiologist’s student heart testing program. A few years later, they were instrumental in helping the community rebuild after the 2016 floods.
“We go wherever they need us,” says Carrie Godbold, a founding member of the organization. Their mission is to “ Serve One Another in Love.” It’s something that they take seriously. Membership opens every May. In addition to membership fees, all members are required to commit to 20 hours of volunteer work every year, to participate in fundraising initiatives, and to serve on at least one committee.
Those minimum requirements ensure a level of dedication, but really, most of the women who join the ZCL are excited to work in whatever capacity they can. “It’s really about fellowship,” says League President Emily Hebert, “We make sure to have chances to socialize every other month so that we can strengthen our friendships outside of just seeing each other when we are volunteering.
Marcelle Gautreaux agrees. “I moved away from Zachary, and when I came back I wondered ‘where are my friends?’” ZCL filled that void. The women come from diverse backgrounds, but all share a spirit of service. “We sometimes joke that we’re the next step when you’re kids age out of ZEPTO,” says Carrie. “We are a place for volunteer minded women to come together to continue to serve their community.”
That ZEPTO heritage was definitely shining through last year when ZCL issued mini-grants to teachers across ZCSD. The teachers used the money to make their classrooms more welcoming and engaging for students. “I received grant money to cover the cost of the little wobble chairs seats around my back table. They help with students who have trouble sitting still, and need to move a little bit in order to focus,” says Claire Douzat Williams. Other teachers used the money to create cozy spots for students to read or whiteboards for their classrooms.
All of this is made possible through community support. The biggest fundraiser of the year has historically been the annual Gala. There’s also a golf tournament and a “Santa Run” at the Christmas Parade where children can try to catch “santas” to win prizes. There’s also an option to sponsor the league directly by visiting: https://www.zacharycharityleague.org/
Donations make it possible for the ZCL to continue to provide support throughout the Zachary community. “We always say that people are our best resource, and Zachary has the best people,” says Christy Turner. In addition to financial sponsorship, people in the community can help support the The Snack Pack 4 Kids program, which serves over 312 students in the lower elementary schools, by checking out ZCL’s amazon wishlist. No matter how you decide to get involved, you can feel good knowing that you’re making a real difference in your community.