St. Bernard Parish teamed up with Valero Meraux Refinery and Nunez Community College in a true community partnership to collect items for Hurricane Laura victims in Southwest Louisiana. The focus of the drive was to collect baby items to replenish those that families lost during the recent devastation in Lake Charles. Items collected included diapers, formula and other gear parents need to make their babies comfortable during this difficult time. In addition to collected items, some also wrote checks which will be donated to the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana in Lake Charles.
“I’m so proud of our Valero employees for stepping up to the plate to help others in need,” said Vice President and General Manager Leslie Sullivan. “I know many of them were personally impacted by Hurricane Katrina and remember the devastation that Hurricane Laura victims must be experiencing. Team Valero is praying for them,” added Sullivan.
“This hurricane relief effort is really a testament to community partnerships, like the one we have in St. Bernard Parish,” said Sullivan. “Our relationships with the Parish and with Nunez Community College are strong and we work together in many ways. At Valero, we feel very fortunate to be a part of the St. Bernard community,” said Vice President and General Manager Leslie Sullivan.
Valero was named one of the 50 most community-minded businesses in America for 2020 by Points of Light, and has been making products that fuel modern life and giving back to its communities for 40 years. Locally, Valero Meraux employees donate about 8,000 hours of volunteer time a year in our community.
“The entire Nunez family—students, faculty and staff—understand loss and really took this effort to heart. It’s evident when you look at the many supplies that were donated on campus,” said Nunez Community College Chancellor Dr. Tina Tinney. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our family at SOWELA Technical Community College and the entire Lake Charles area. We hope these supplies bring some sense of aid to the parents who are trying to provide for their children. And we hope the generosity from one resilient community to another offers some level of comfort and support as they work to rebuild.”
“I’m honored to be able to be part of a team whose main goal and focus is to help those in need. We could not have asked for more caring partners than the employees of each of these businesses,” said St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis.
