MARKSVILLE, La. - The Avoyelles society for the developmentally disabled has been helping people for more then 25 years. But, at the end of the month, they might be forced to close their doors. News Channel Five's Nolan Crane shows us why there is a 50-thousand dollar obstacle.
The nonprofit organization has to renew their license which expires on June the 30th. But the problem is the government says the board has to pay for it, and the board members say they just don't have the money. At the end of the day it's bad news for the organizations 47 clients, who call each other, a family. For more than twenty years Todd Dufour has been coming to the Avoyelles society for the developmentally disabled.
"They teach us like math, spelling like that and we do roll call," says Todd Dufour.
But making desserts for ASDD and spending time with his friends is what he loves to do the most.
"I like to play bingo and cook and make cookies," says Todd Dufour.
Todd is just one of 47 people who have made the ASDD his home away from home.
"It's fun, we have a blast over here," says Brent Bartel.
But the ASDD board president says that is about to change. In order to continue receiving their financial assistance from the state, they have to get their license renewed. And now they say, the state is telling the board that its 11 members will have to take out a personal loan of 50-thousand dollars. It's a financial burden that the board members aren't sure they can take on.
"Most of our board members are retired, you know there people who want to do good for the community but the state is asking us to take that financial risk on and most of our board members just not able to make that call for themselves right now," says Troy Guilbeaux.
Lauren Laborde is the executive director here. She says she understands the board's hesitation to take on such a task, but she says she's heartbroken for the sake of her clients, who depend on this place, with friends they call family.
"This would be really devastating to them if they were not able to come here any longer because this is the only life that some of them really know. They look to see the same staff all the time, the same friends," says Lauren Laborde.
And the people here say if the doors are closed, they will miss something more important then cooking.
"A whole bunch of friends," says Jonathon Jones.
The board president says the 47 clients will not be the only people affected if that 50-thousand dollar line of credit doesn't come through, the 14 full-time employees will lose their jobs. The issue will be discussed again at the next board meeting on Monday.
