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Shelters big Sugar Bowl winners

New Iberia — Citizen-supported safe refuges for battered women and other victims of domestic abuse each received a donation of $5,000 from a Sugar Bowl football pool.

New Start Center in St. Martinville and Safety Net for Abused Persons, or S.N.A.P., of New Iberia benefitted from the gaming spirit of 100 individuals who participated in the pool for tickets to the BCS championship game between LSU and Ohio State in New Orleans.

“This $5,000 will help tremendously in keeping our doors open this fiscal year,” said Sis Broussard, executive director of New Start Center.

“Every time renewal comes around there is always a rise in cost,” she said. “As you well know, the cost of living goes up and not down.”

“It helps a lot,” said Carol Mumm, executive director of S.N.A.P. “It covers items we have to provide, such as up-keep and cleaning supplies.”

Government grants tend to be earmarked for specific purposes, such as electricity and phone bills while many basic necessities often go begging Mumm said.

“The board at New Start is in the preliminary stages of looking to build a new shelter," said Broussard.

She said the current structure is too small to served their needs.

“Of course this will take some time to find funding and being a high poverty parish does not help our situation. This donation will make it easier to pay our insurances this fiscal year.”

S.N.A.P. is also trying to expand its facility.

“We need to expand desperately,” Mumm said.

“Louisiana is the second most lethal state in domestic abuse,” Mumm said.

Donations are still welcome by both organizations.

“We have a Web site with several donation options,” Broussard said. “Also on the Web site there is all our services and information about New Start Center’s history and much more information for the public to read about abuse and how it affects an individual.”

The Web address is www.newstartcenter.org or you can call 394-8559.

To make a donation to S.N.A.P., call 367-7627.

CUTLINE:

FOOTBALL POOL WINNERS — Supporters and staff of St. Martin and Iberia battered women’s shelters proudly display a ceremonial check of $10,000 earned by a football pool on the outcome of the Sugar Bowl game between Hawaii and Georgia. Shown are (from left) state Rep. Simone Champagne of Jeanerette, state Rep. Taylor Barras of New Iberia, state Sen. Troy Hebert of Jeanerette, state Rep. Fred Mills of Breaux Bridge, S.N.A.P director Carol Mumm, New Start Center director Sis Broussard, NSC Board President Nick Breaux, former NSC Board President Byron Cormier, St. Martin Parish President Guy Cormier. (Photo courtesy Fabian Tucker)

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