AARP Louisiana Launches Cooling Centers and WiFi Hotspots in Lake Charles Churches

In a move to bolster disaster resilience, AARP Louisiana has designated five local churches as official cooling centers and Wi-Fi hotspot sites. This initiative, announced during a press conference on Tuesday, June 18 at Greater St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church, aims to provide essential services during natural disasters and power outages.

The churches selected for this initiative include Greater St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Starlight Baptist Church, and Saints Cathedral Church of God in Christ.

Following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Laura and Delta in Lake Charles in 2020, community leaders began advocating for expanded broadband access to address challenges in underserved areas. AARP Louisiana collaborated with the governor’s office, local churches, stakeholders, and broadband experts to identify unmet needs and innovative solutions.

As a result, five churches in Lake Charles partnered with AARP Louisiana to establish digital centers equipped with Wi-Fi hotspots and solar-powered satellite Internet systems. Two of these churches were awarded an AARP Community Challenge grant to install inground generators, enhancing their role as cooling centers.

The event was attended by Mayor Nic Hunter, Councilmembers Craig Marks and Ronnie Harvey, Calcasieu Parish Marshal Nathan Keller, a representative from the local United Way, and members of the community.

This initiative represents a significant step forward in creating a more resilient and connected Lake Charles community.