AOL shares in Ida relief

Sophomores Marissa Toups and Emily McDonell serving food in Lafitte.
Photo | Courtesy Academy of Our Lady

Since Hurricane Ida, students from Academy of Our Lady (AOL) have volunteered regularly in the hard-hit area of Lafitte.

Amy Danos, dean of students, organized a group of 85 students in mid-September to volunteer at St. Anthony Church in Lafitte, where during a downpour they handed out supplies, served food and organized clothing and donations – representing a total of 481 hours of service.

AOL students have returned every Saturday since then.  Students Against Destructive Decisions also collected a trailerful of donations that included toiletries, paper towels and other items  for Lafitte residents.

Game became giving moment

AOL students used the occasion of a rescheduled volleyball match on Sept. 23 against South Terrebonne High School to collect three truckloads of supplies and food for the Houma school on 24 hours notice.

The volleyball team passed out shirts with handwritten notes to the Gators players and honored their opponent in a presentation after the game. AOL prepared a hot meal for all players and fans before and after the game.

AOL also donated new volleyballs, a ball cart, food, toiletry items and other items  to  South Terrebonne, a sister member of Division 2 Class 4A, “because they lost everything,” said junior varsity and varsity coach Katelyn Delaune.

“When the South Terrebonne coach called trying to schedule a game, we knew we had to help with more than just playing a game,” AOL athletic director Ken Marrocolli said. “Our student athletes and their families truly stepped up to the plate. It warms your heart to see our student athletes display their Salesian faith by reaching out to help others.”

“We are so grateful for the generosity of the AOL volleyball players, cheerleaders and parents for all of the donations,” said Taylor Dupaty Mooney, South Terrebonne coach. “There were a lot of happy and thankful tears from our players because many of them lost everything, and they were not expecting all of this.”