Richland Parish Council on Aging receives donations - KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com |

RICHLAND PARISH, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Richland Parish's Council on Aging received a much needed check from the Palmetto Addiction Recovery Center on Friday. As KNOE first reported in July, state funding cuts had Richland Parish's Council on Aging facing the threat of canceling services. But instead of giving up, the organization set out to fundraise the needed money.

"I think I come just about every day." said World War II veteran Lamar Wadworth Lane, the Council on Aging is where he goes to eat, laugh, and socialize.  The 93 year old says the council is one of the parish's most important organizations. "Not only to me but to my friends and family." said Lane.

Each year, the center serves over 13 thousand sit down meals and delivers 20 thousand meals to home bound seniors.  But for a second year, 25 thousand dollars in state money was cut from the Rayville location, threatening their meal programs. But just like last year, instead of scaling back on meals, Beth Whatley, Richland's director of the center vowed to raise the money needed. In just a couple of months,17 thousand dollars has been donated.

"No donation is too small, people have come in here and brought me a 20 dollar bill, they've come in here and brought me a thousand dollars." said Whatley, and Friday it was Palmetto Addiction Recovery Center who donated the thousand dollar check. The recovery center even cooked up hamburger meals and gave out prizes for the elderly.

"We decided to prepare a day like this, hoping to spark interest and hoping to spark others to do a similar event." said Alan Miller of the Palmetto Addiction Recovery Center.

If you want to donate visit the COA headquarters at 414 Harrison St., in Rayville or call
318-728-2646 or 318-878-9520.