HERO PROGRAM NEWS
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VOLUNTEER COOKING FOR OUR VETERANS
What is unique with the HERO Program in Opelousas is that we are the only program in Louisiana that treats just veterans and active military personnel. Our HERO Program isn't just a sub-service of another treatment program. It is our ONLY service. Also unique is that our program staff is comprised of many veterans or staff who have family members who are veterans, and who are now helping other veterans.
Because of our unique treatment focus, we are often approached by other veterans in the community who want to help, who want to show their appreciation for their fellow military brothers and sisters.
Wishing to remain anonymous, one veteran from nearby Crowley, Louisiana has taken to preparing free breakfasts and other meals for our resident veterans every other Friday. Recently, he provided a full, on-site crawfish boil, and on another Friday, he prepared a breakfast of sausage, potatoes, bacon, and a pancake bar including fruit. As everyone knows, in Louisiana, we love to eat, and we really love to cook.
In posting these candid photos to our website and Facebook page today, we wish to express our special thanks to this wonderful, anonymous veteran who has taken it upon himself to help others in their healing and recovery, by giving of himself so unselfishly.
And, as most of our residents can be heard saying among themselves, “We can’t wait to see what he cooks up next!”
Sausage, bacon, potatoes, pancakes and a fruit bar makes for a great breakfast. A Louisiana Craw fish boil is tasty for a Friday lunch. -
HERO TO BUILD NEW FITNESS CENTERHERO NEWS
Monday, March 29, 2021
HERO Program plans new on-site Fitness Center for Veterans
The HERO Program in Opelousas, Louisiana has initiated plans for the development of a 4,000 square foot Fitness Center to be built on the program’s campus. The all new center will allow Veterans and other active military personnel who struggle with substance abu
se and/or PTSD, to enhance their physical health while in treatment in the HERO Program. The new center will complement HERO’s philosophy of treating the whole person including mind, body and spirit.
According to Craig Laseur, Program Manager of the HERO program and a military veteran, the architectural firm of Ash, Broussard, Weinzettle Architects has been selected to design the new fitness center and to oversee the overall construction.
The center will feature state of the art fitness and strengthening equipment and will have the ability to be both an open-air center and closed environment depending on weather conditions. The site of the new fitness center is adjacent to nearby HERO residential areas and is convenient to all parts of the growing HERO CAMPUS.
Groundbreaking for the new center is planned to take place over the summer of 2021 with construction to begin thereafter.
Architects Kevin Broussard and Jim Weinzettle are pictured with
HERO Program Manager, Craig Laseur as they tour the site of the HERO Program’s new 4,000 square foot Veterans Fitness Center to be constructed on the program campus.
