The Good in Our Hearts

For the last month, Michel “Skip” Hebert Jr. has been coordinating with volunteers, using only donations, to prepare and deliver hot lunches weekly to medical personnel and medical facilities in and around Franklin.
Last week, it was chicken, coleslaw, and beans prepared at the Knights of Columbus Baldwin/Charenton Council 6873 building in Baldwin, for 347 medical personnel across the city.
It all started when Hebert had the idea, in March, that he would spend the financial stimulus money he was expecting, on putting a meal together for the medical staff at Franklin Foundation Hospital, as well as Legacy Nursing and Rehabilitation of Franklin (formerly Franklin Health Care Center).
Hebert said he prayed on the matter over a weekend, and when he woke up Sunday morning, he knew that God wanted him to carry out his humanitarian endeavor.
“So, I put it on Facebook that I was not only going to feed the hospital, but was going to include the nursing home, and was asking for donations,” Hebert said. “And within about fifteen minutes, God let me know this was a good thing. So, it just went crazy and we started getting hundreds of donations. Then, I knew it was a good thing; and we’ve been feeding them every week since.
“My original idea was to feed 150 employees. We are now up to 347.”
Hebert said that since the lunch program started, on May 17, he, Al Kuhlman, and their weekly volunteer forces have served and delivered 2,101 meals to healthcare workers.
“That little, small idea wound up being a good one,” Hebert chuckled. “After 74 years, I finally had a good idea.”
He set up an account: Michel Hebert Jr. C19 Special, at First National Bank of Jeanerette, Franklin Branch for the collection of donations, and it is still active.
“I had no idea it was going to go off as good as it did, nor that we would be feeding them as long as we are,” he added. “And I intend to feed them for the rest of this month, and probably part of next month with the donations I have.
“So, it has been amazing. It’s a good program and has been very well appreciated by both sides. This was a win-win situation for all involved, especially me, because I get to have done the city some good on both ends.”
Hebert thanked the public at large, for their response to let healthcare workers know they appreciate what’s going on, and the healthcare workers for the work they are doing during the COVID-19 crisis, and the difficulties their families endure because of their tireless efforts to keep the city of Franklin’s citizens healthy.