OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) -- Hope for Opelousas has built a reputation for being a safe and loving environment for kids outside of school, and as more parents have grown interested in the program each year, Executive Director Loren Carriere said the organization is now carrying out their goal to expand.

"This summer, we anticipate adding double the number of kids in first grade," Carriere said. "Just a one grade expansion this year, but from here on out, we're going to attempt to do two grades per year."

Over the organization's 16 years of service, Hope For Opelousas has provided after school tutoring and mentorship to the kids of the community.

Carriere said as they've grown, they've had the opportunity to purchase properties on Union and Madison Street to convert into classrooms for the students in each grade level.

"You know, we didn't start off saying we wanted to buy a block," Carriere said. "But now we own a block of homes."

As their waiting list has now grown to over 300 students, Carrier said now is the time to expand.

Th next step in the expansion process is centered around the organization's newly-acquired house on South Union Street, which is currently being renovated into the new learning center for their junior high students.

"We're just preparing it to get ready, whenever summer comes around, to begin moving around some of the students on our campus so we can start to begin to add kids to our actual program," Carriere said.

With the dream of continuing to expand, and the dream of working with families before their kids even start school, Carriere said their new building is only the start of the legacy Hope For Opelousas hopes to build.

"And essentially double the number of kids that we serve in the coming decade, more families that we'll get to know," Carriere said. "It means we continue to invest in the next generation. And that's what it's really about."

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