Love of People: Helping You, Help Others - FOX 15

LAFAYETTE - The Blue Monday Mission directly impacts many of our local musicians by helping with things like health care costs, for example. But if you know anything about the organization Love of People, which powers Blue Monday, you'll know that helping people is in their DNA.

"Blue Monday is a blessing," says Karen Rue, the secretary for Love of People, "That's what's happened to this community."

The Blue Monday Mission helps aging musicians and artists in Acadiana with financial needs. It's one of the passion projects that stems from the non-profit Love of People, which connects volunteers to projects that benefit the community.

Explains, John Williams, "Centralize all of these amazing people with amazing ideas and amazing talents, but to come together to really focus our efforts."

As the president of Love of People, Williams lives by the phrase "Helping others, help others."

Adds Williams, "Whenever you can offer people an opportunity to truly connect in the community you live in - see the value of your dollar - see the value of your time, actually being implemented with those around you, I think it's just a special thing."

The Blue Monday Mission is now in its fifth year.

"The vision was bring blues musicians together, let's organize egos and talents and get em on stage at the same time and just be successful at it," explains Ray Flores, a local businessman and avid supporter of Love of People.

But after realizing that many of these retired artists (who have spent their lives creating the culture of Acadiana) don't have 401k's or medical benefits, Williams saw a way to help this community.

"When those people who dedicated their lives to creating it(the culture); when I'm finding them living less than a mile away from Downtown with no heat or even running water in the house, there is a problem," says Williams, whose father started Love of People in 1993.

With the power of Love of People, the Blue Monday Mission now has a large number of volunteers and a strong organizational structure making a difference.

Commenting on where the mission is today, Flores adds, "The organization, the exceptional talent, the consistent performance of the Blue Monday band, and their ability to anchor down any musician of any genre to come through and support them in a very professional way."

Donating your time or money to this cause is an easy way to say, "Thank you," to those who have given their lives to making folks smile.

Says Flores, "Blue Monday initiative offers them the credit that they deserve, but in addition, to help them with medical support from things that they have comforts of basic life."

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