Flooding causes major damage to Breaux Bridge reading center

BREAUX BRIDGE, La. ( KLFY ) – The Acadiana Reading Center in Breaux Bridge was damaged by recent severe weather and had to temporarily close its doors.

Owner and founder of the school Melissa Begnaud Ardoin says, “It was really disheartening to watch all the work we had put in in the last few years just basically be wiped out within one hour. You can’t even put words to describe the feelings of defeat that we felt.”

Acadiana Reading Center has been located on Parkway Dr. in Breaux Bridge for three years. Ardoin says they have never had flooding issues until the recent storms. She says they were not prepared for what happened. “We started calling it ‘Lake Acadiana Reading Center’ because we looked like we were on a lake. There was just water all over.”

Ardoin says the facility had up to about a foot of water in it. Walls, floors, desks, shelves, and a lot of personal belongings for the staff were lost in the process. Ardoin says even though it has been tough to take in and has contemplating giving up, the response from her students, families, and workers reminded her of what her initial purpose was when this all began.

“We’re a family. Just having my family get me through this has really been probably the only thing that kept me going and making me want to salvage this and push to get it salvageable and get it fixed so that we can be back in school by August,” she said.

If you’re willing to help, a GoFundMe has been set up. You can also contact Melissa via email at acadianareadingcenter@gmail.com to give physical donations.

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