Volunteers look for new location to feed homeless in Lafayette

NEW THIS MORNING... A GROUP OFVOLUNTEERS IS ASKING FOR YOUHELP.

THEY NEED A NEW PLACE TOFEED THE AREA'S HOMELESSPOPULATION.OUR ABBY BREIDENBACH IS INDOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE...AND ASSHE EXPLAINS...THE GROUP WASPREVIOUSLY ALLOWED TO FEED THOSEINNEED, BUT HAVE BEEN ASKED TOLEAVE.OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS - AGROUP OF VOLUNTEERS IN FEDERALPARK SERVEDHOMEMADE MEALS WEEKLY TO DOZENSOF HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THEAREA...NOW..THEYNEED YOUR HELP TO CONTINUINGDOING IT."ON THURSDAY NIGHTS WE DOHOMECOOKED DINNERS IN DOWNTOWNLAFAYETTE.

IT'S OUR WAY TO REACHOUT TO THE HOMELESS COMMUNITYANDSHOW THEM LOVE BECAUSE WE'RE INSOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AND THAT'SHOW PEOPLE SHOW LOVE," THEGROUP HAS FED THE AREA'SHOMELESSFOR ABOUT SIX YEARS IN LOCATIONSACROSS DOWNTOWN."WE WERE PUSHED OUT OF PARC SANSSOUCI, SO WE MOVED TO FEDERALPARK.

ANDNOW WE'VE BEEN PUSHED OUT OFFEDERAL PARK AS WELL,"REGULARS AT THESE WEEKLY DINNERSSAY - THEY CAN'T COME TO ANEND..."THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB,HELPING PEOPLE OUT.

MOSTLYHOMELESS PEOPLE.PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING,PEOPLE THAT JUST CAME OUT OFJAIL.

PEOPLE THATARE STRUGGLING.

PEOPLE THAT AREA LONG WAY FROM HOME, PEOPLETHATDON'T HAVE FAMILY," NOW THESEVOLUNTEERS ARE ASKING BUSINESSOWNERS AS WELL ASPEOPLE WHO LIVE DOWNTOWN IF THEYCOULD LEND SOME SPACE - ONCE AWEEK -TO THIS EFFORT.REALLY WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR ASMALL SIDEWALK, ANYTHING, MAYBEA PARKING LOT!I SPOKE WITH A FEW PEOPLE WHOCOUNT ON THESE DINNERS.THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO ONCAMERA.

BUT DID SAY THEYAPPRECIATE THESEMEALS AND THE FRIENDSHIPSTHEY'VE MADE.THEY ALSO TELL ME, THEY'REHOPING THIS TRADITION WON'T END.REPORTING IN LAFAYETTE, ABBYBREIDENBACH, KATC TV 3.IN STATE NEWS... STATEWILDLIFE OFFICIALS SAY A 20-YEAR-OLD WAS FOUND DEAD AFTER ABOATING INCIDENT NEARSHREVEPORT.ANOTHER PERSON CHARGED WITHDRIVING A BOAT WHILEINTOXICATED.BREIDENBACH, KATC TV 3.