‘A blessing straight from heaven’

Making a difference can be as simple as picking up a paint brush.
Members of a team from Baker Hughes Southern Area proved that last Friday when they helped put a fresh coat of paint on the inside of Briggs Learning for Life in Abbeville.
“It’s a blessing straight from heaven,” said Kay Wilson, director of Briggs Learning.
The employees from Baker Hughes, one of the world’s largest oilfield services companies, came to Abbeville Friday in correlation with the United Way of Acadiana’s annual “Day of Action.” The Briggs project was one of more than 50 taking place Friday around Acadiana.
Baker Hughes’ John Raggio said such efforts are a core mission for the company.
“We have a Statement of Purpose for the Southern Area,” Raggio said. “We are the pride of the community, ever present, delivering extraordinary results.”
Raggio said that leads those with Baker Hughes to be involved.
“We want to give back to the communities in which we live,” he said. “That is why we teamed up with United Way.”
Wilson said she is thankful for the difference made by both groups.
“We have been here seven years and we haven’t been able to get everything painted,” Wilson said. “We were able to get some areas painted about three years ago.
“Now the rest is getting painted.”
The building serves multiple purposes in the community. Combined with being a place for children, Briggs Learning for Life doubles as a food pantry.
“We had our distribution days on Wednesday and Thursday of this week,” Wilson said. “We served 132 families.”
The learning center aspect of the building has slowed down with the summer.
“We only have the kids coming in to borrow books,” Wilson said. “We want to keep them reading during the summer.”
Traffic will increase once school resumes in August.
“We will have them four days a week,” Wilson said. “We have them from 3:30 p.m. until 5 p.m.”
Wilson is confident the kids will notice the difference made Friday.
“They will notice,” Wilson said. “They will notice the doors changing colors.
“They will notice and appreciate it.”
Again, Wilson certainly does.
“This makes such a difference,” Wilson said. “It will make a difference for the teachers.
“For the United Way and Baker Hughes, it’s wonderful that they can give their time.”