LIVINGSTON, La. – Livingston Parish Assessor Jeff Taylor recently announced that local volunteers will be collecting donations for this year’s ASSESS THE NEED school supply drive on the weekends of August 3-4 and August 10-11 at several local grocery stores across the parish.
This year’s effort marks the 24th consecutive year that Taylor has sponsored the parish-wide school supply drive. ASSESS the NEED is a not-for-profit program that provides supplies for Livingston Parish students in need of assistance.
This year’s campaign anticipates meeting the needs of more than 3,200 students in all the district’s 43 public schools, including Pre-K and Head Start programs. The supplies are provided to those students at the start of the school year. The first day of classes in Livingston Parish for the 2024-2025 school year is Aug. 8, 2024.
“We are excited about the opportunity to serve our community for another year. We know this program helps so many children, giving them the supplies and support they need to start a new school year,” Livingston Parish Assessor Jeff Taylor said.
Taylor said volunteers will once again be at the parish’s local Associated Grocers stores, including Cain’s Family Markets in Albany, Livingston and Springfield; Carter’s Supermarkets at Hatchell Lane in Denham Springs, Vincent Road in Denham Springs and Walker; Oak Point Fresh Market in Watson; Village Markets in White Hall and Head of Island. Volunteers will collect donations at those sites over the weekends of August 3-4 and August 10-11, each day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Taylor said donations can be given directly to volunteers at the stores or through Venmo. Links to the Assess the Need Venmo account are available in print and web ads in local newspapers, on signs across the parish, and on cards at local businesses. Donations can also be dropped off at the Livingston Parish Assessor’s Office, located on Government Boulevard in Livingston, Monday-Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., or mailed to Assess the Need, P.O. Box 1802, Denham Springs, LA 70727-1802.
All donations to Assess the Need are tax deductible, and all proceeds go to support student needs in Livingston Parish.
Taylor said the program is also supported through sponsorships by local businesses. This year’s sponsors include Guarantee Restoration Services, Freedom Prosthetics, LLC, Richard Price Contracting CO., LLC, BJ Pawn, McLaff, Plantation Management Co., LLC, CST Multifamily Real Estate Services, LLC, Livingston Parish News, The Advocate, Hammond Star, WAFB-TV, Taylor Media Services, Lewis Graphic Design, Lamar Advertising, Action 17 News, Local Leaders: The Podcast, Unfiltered with Kiran, Boyer, Hebert, & Angelle Law Firm, LLC, Abundant Life Church, Lard Oil of Denham Springs, Unity Prayer Center, Good Hope, Inc., Audubon Village Investments, LLC, Denham Office Properties, LLC, Big Mike’s Bar & Grill, LA PRO, Bank of Zachary, Livingston Parish Republican Women, Pilot Club of Denham Springs, Kiwanis Club of Denham Springs, Kiwanis Club of Walker, and Texas Roadhouse of Denham Springs.
Superintendent Jody Purvis, along with Assess the Need volunteers, load boxes of school supplies into the car of a school teacher to be delivered to one of the parish's 43 campuses last August.
