The Joseph Candler Jr. Memorial Foundation held a supply giveaway event at the Tallulah-Madison Community Center for students preparing to return to school in the coming weeks.
“Organizations that attended the Joseph Candler, Jr. Memorial Foundation Back to School Supplies Giveaway were Pelican State Credit Union, PB Candler Consulting, LLC, Lynette Ewell, New Bethel M.B. Church (Pastor Henry J. Harris), and the Tallulah Rotary Club,” said Patricia Candler. “Other sponsors were Louisiana Fish Fry Products, Youth of Excellence, Louisiana HealthCare Connections, and Carolyn Thompson.”
Candler said, “When a child in Tallulah opens a backpack from the Joseph Candler, Jr. Memorial Foundation, they’re not just receiving school supplies — they’re receiving encouragement, dignity, and the message that their community is standing behind them every step of the way.”
The Joseph Candler Jr. Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Tallulah. It was created to honor the legacy of Joseph Candler Jr., an educator and community advocate.
The foundation’s signature initiative is its annual Back-to-School Supplies Giveaway, which provides local children with backpacks containing notebooks, pencils, crayons, and other items.
The foundation promotes literacy by distributing books and encouraging family reading nights. It also hosts seasonal drives and giveaways, partners with schools and community organizations to connect students with enrichment programs and tutoring, and supports parents and caregivers with workshops on school resources, education advocacy, and home learning strategies.
The foundation also works to reduce barriers for under-resourced families and promote equity in education in Madison Parish.
“At its heart, the Joseph Candler, Jr. Memorial Foundation is about more than supplies — it’s about hope, dignity, and opportunity,” the foundation said in a statement. “Every program it touches reflects one simple mission: to make sure every child in Tallulah knows their community believes in their potential.”
