Paying Forward for Coach Tros

Eunice High’s “Pay IT Forward” Club is gearing up for its different fundraisers and activities. One is to help the school’s head football coach Paul Trosclair.
Trosclair, recently diagnosed with Multi-Myeloma, a rare blood-plasma cancer, travels from time to time for treatments at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas.
Trosclair is currently undergoing chemo treatments twice a week in Opelousas under the care of his MD Anderson doctor.
He added, “I will be undergoing a stem-cell transplant in December and January for those two months at MD Anderson. and travel periodically out of state for treatment.”
He added, “I have my good days and my bad days. However, most of the time I’m feeling okay. I’m fortunate enough to have not missed a lot of days at school.
Trosclair is in his 21st year of teaching and coaching at Eunice High School.
The EHS Pay It Forward Club, along with EHS Booster Club members, are currently planning a benefit/fundraiser for Trosclair on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at Northwest Community Center at 6 p.m.
Gumbo will be sold for $7, which will include potato salad and a drink. There will also be a silent auction.
All proceeds will go to Coach Trosclair. Pre-sale tickets are available. One can contact EHS office for tickets.
The “Pay It Forward Club” began as an interest among a group of students a year ago.
These students desired something different..not just your ordinary club. They wanted to “give back” to the community.
Thus the club began. The club is a not-for-profit where all the monies raised are given directly to the fund or project the students are working on.
Club sponsor and science teacher EHS Therese Gianfala, added, “The club comes up together with ideas on different projects, and they try their best to help out as many people in the community.”
Last year, club members held several different community events. For Thanksgiving they cooked gumbo for the residents at Eunice Manor, and spent the afternoon playing Bingo, presenting cards, and visiting.
Gianfala added, “ Last year, for Christmas, we raised over $800 and bought gifts for children at Faith House. We were able to spend an afternoon with them playing “Just Dance” on the Wii and all enjoyed cookies and punch.
“Pay It Forward” members spent last spring, eight weekends in a row, helping elderly clean homes and performed spring yard cleaning. All equipment and supplies were donated by the community.
Another outreach was “Paid Forward.”
Gianfala added, “Our students also helped with bake sales during a weekend to supply a cancer patient with extra money to help pay his bills for one month.”
The club is currently planning in the near future, to become more involved with students (grades K-4). “Maybe a Community Fun Day will happen soon,” said Gianfala.
Gianfala added, “If anyone in the community would like information about any of our projects, or have ideas about a project or would like to participate with, or donate to the project, call EHS at 457-3011, and leave a message”