Caring for the homeless

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Imagine, if you can, corralling the energies of 21 butterflies. This is what it is like for me every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon as I lead the Episcopal Girls on the Run team. Our team consists of 21 girls in third and fourth grades. They are delightful, happy and gifted with youthful exuberance. And, they LOVE to run! 

Since early February, Coach Jody (Kennard), Coach Jenny (Murphy), Honorary Coach Shelley (Massengale) and I have been leading this group of amazing girls. The intent of the GOTR program is to inspire girls to recognize and celebrate their unique strengths through dynamic discussions, activities and running games. Our season wraps up with a celebratory 5K event. Our team is so excited about completing the race, for some of them, their very first 5K. 

​As part of the GOTR program, the girls choose a group in our community to support or show appreciation to. This year’s team decided to create care bags for the homeless. The items they chose to include in the bags are socks, water, toothpaste, a toothbrush, deodorant, aspirin, Band-Aids, chap stick, a comb, a granola bar, a pack of gum, anti-bacterial wipes, tissues, and sunscreen. They put the bags together after school while  snacking on crepes as they work, and Coach Madame will deliver the care bags to St. James Episcopal Church who will oversee their distribution to the homeless.

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Beth Lemoine

Beth Lemoine is a native of Baton Rouge and has taught grades 2 through 12 French at Episcopal for 23 yrs. She has organized the Upper School French exchange and Quebec trip during her time here. Her daughter Chloe is in 8th grade at Episcopal.