LIVINGSTON — For the 24th year in a row, the Assess the Need program is supporting students in Livingston Parish. The program is run by Livingston Parish Assessor Jeff Taylor and his wife, Delia Taylor, to provide essential school supplies like backpacks, notebooks, and writing instruments to students whose families may have difficulties affording those items.
Delia Taylor emphasized that the program wouldn’t be possible without the donations and support of the Livingston Parish community.
“What we’ve found is that children who can’t afford supplies, that book sack can be the most important piece that’s given to them,” Taylor said. “We wanted to give them the supplies they needed. You walk into the classroom with your head held a little higher when you know you have a backpack with your name on it and you know it’s yours.”
Assess the Need also helps fund other initiatives like purchasing the STEAM Express in 2022, which is a mobile classroom that helps students learn science, technology, engineering, math, and art inside a converted school bus.
Funding initiatives like the STEAM Express and providing school supplies for students have long-term benefits for the community, Taylor said.
“We’ve seen not only the tangible assets that we’ve been able to get but also that intangible that is so much more powerful where students have the confidence now and the belief system to move forward and be successful in the classroom and that’s what’s been so powerful about this program.”
Volunteers will be accepting donations for Assess the Need from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 10-11 at grocery stores around Livingston Parish, including Cain’s Family Market in Albany, Livingston, and Springfield; Carter’s Supermarkets in Denham Springs and Walker; Oak Point Fresh Market in Watson; and Village Markets in Whitehall and Head of Island.
Donations can also be directly dropped off at the Livingston Parish Assessor’s Office Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Donations can be given directly to volunteers at the stores or sent via Venmo. All donations to Assess the Need are tax-deductible, and all proceeds go to supporting students in need in Livingston Parish, Taylor said.
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