LaSalle Baptist Ministry Center

The LaSalle Baptist Ministry Center, better known as the “Mission House”, is operated by the LaSalle Baptist Association. Located at 2618 North First Street in Jena, it is frequented by many people from the parish. It was founded by Rev. Preston and Ruby Holder in the early 1980s. The purpose of the Mission House is to provide food and clothing to low-income families, families with emergency situations, and disaster victims.

We are fortunate to be in a community that supports the Mission House, by giving donations of clothes, household items, and other miscellaneous items. Volunteers prepare all donations for sale. The money from the sale of these items, combined with donations from churches and from private individuals, is used to purchase food for qualifying families in the parish.

The Food Bank of Central Louisiana has partnered with the Mission House, giving it access to food. Other food items are purchased from vendors or donated by individuals or organizations. Every month, volunteer youth groups assist in bagging the groceries. Qualifying individuals and families receive these bags of groceries in Olla the last Tuesday each month and in Jena at the Mission House the last Wednesday and Thursday each month.

The Mission House is also the distribution point for the Senior Food Program, commonly referred to as “Senior Boxes.” Seniors participating in this program qualify directly with the Food Bank of Central Louisiana. These boxes are distributed to seniors on the first Thursday each month.

In December each year, the Mission House provides food baskets for seniors participating in the Senior Program. Also in December, children of families who qualify for the monthly food bags are given toys. Funding for both these activities come from Mission House sales and donations from people in the community.

The Mission House participates in the Backpack Program. This program provides schoolaged children with food for the weekend.

The Mission House is open from 8 a.m. – 12 noon, Monday through Thursday. For more information, contact Rocky Melvin at 992-8864.

LaSalle Florist

Today’s LaSalle Florist is the culmination of a dream – one that began over 44 years ago. Catherine Wishum Roberts and her husband, Harry “Cuz” Roberts, wanted to build a shop where she could show her talents and be her own boss. The first shop was in an old gas station across the road from the present location. Quickly aware that the small building wouldn’t accommodate the onslaught of customers, Cuz and Catherine began building the shop in which we are now housed, with Cuz doing the majority of the work.

Catherine Roberts’ talent still shines in LaSalle Florist 44 years after the first shingle was hung up on that tiny building across the road. Designers and workers have come and gone through the years, leaving their mark on the business just like the ones today. Kathy Jackson is a designer and bookkeeper, who keeps us out of trouble.

LaSalle Florist, the dream of Catherine and Cuz Roberts, is alive and well, thanks to our customers, our friends, in LaSalle Parish.

LaSalle Lumber Company, LLC

LaSalle Lumber Company, LLC is a partnership formed in 2018 between Hunt Forest Products, a well-established company in the Louisiana forest products industry, and Tolko Industries, an equally- renowned company in the Canadian forest products landscape.

The partnership built a state-of-the-art Southern yellow pine sawmill, located in Urania, which produces primarily 2×4, 2×6 and some 4×4 and 4×6 lumber.

The first production was held in February 2019 and they continue to report that business has been excellent since its beginning.

The office business hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Scheduled appointments are required for all customers in the shipping department.

LaSalle Lumber Company’s Plant Manager is Michael Veuleman with Rhonda Owen serving as the Human Resource Manager.

The plant employs 160 people and LaSalle Lumber employees are eligible to participate in competitive comprehensive benefit plans which include: medical, dental, vision, short-term and longterm disability, life and voluntary life insurance and 401(k).

Hourly employees may also be eligible to receive a sign-on bonus of $1,500 and eligible to receive 40 hours of paid timeoff within the first year, dependent on hire date. Hourly employees are paid each week, by direct deposit and employees gain valuable work experience and can explore a career path with the company.

Employees have access to mentors to learn from and they gain confidence as they develop and refine their professional skills.

LaSalle Lumber Company is located at 5189 Hwy. 125, Olla and their mailing address is P.O. Box 639, Urania, LA, 71480.

Their phone number is (318) 495-4004.