Ricky Smith’s Audio Hosts Very Successful Toys For Tots

LAFAYETTE, LA (12.07.2020) – The Ricky Smith’s Audio location in Lafayette hosted a tremendously successful Toys For Tots event on Saturday, December 5th. Shortly after the store opened at 9AM people began entering the store with toys to add Christmas joy for many youngsters in the area.

The Ricky Smith’s Audio store front in Lafayette Louisiana.

Chad Neveu related, “People started bringing toys right after we opened and a steady flow of people with presents for area youngsters continued until the actual event ended at 2PM. The area LA Jeepers Club participated with us in the event and one of their members was dressed as Santa and another as an Elf. At the end of the day we had collected well over 100 toys that filled several of the large Toys For Tots Marine Corps Reserve boxes.”

Areas inside the store were set up for the Holidays and the Toys for Tots event.

In past years the South College Shopping Center businesses joined together for a Santa Sleigh Christmas event in the center’s parking lot. In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic that event was cancelled this year.

An area in the showroom was set up for people to see Santa who actually was a member of the LA Jeepers Club. This image was taken early in the event when only a small portion of the toys had arrived.

Continuing, Neveu offered, “Without the traditional Santa Sleigh event in the center we wanted to provide some cheer for area youngsters and holding a Toys For Tots event seemed like a great opportunity. In the past we have co-hosted events with the community minded area LA Jeepers Club. With their help the Toys For Tots event came together. They had several members helping in the store along with Santa and his Elf.”

When the event was over at 2 PM well over 100 toys had been donated at the Toys For Tots event.

Following the devastation from Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles the LA Jeepers Club hosted a drive for supplies to provide aid for residents in early September. That drive for supplies and tools was held in the parking lot in front of Ricky Smith’s Audio. Other Jeep focused events have also been held in the parking lot at Ricky Smith’s Audio.

Members of the LA Jeepers Club gathered for a photo during the Toys for Tots event.

“Aftermarket upgrades for Jeep vehicles are a very bright spot across the 12volt industry. We have added a variety of products to the rides of several members of the LA Jeepers Club and other Jeep owners in the area at our 3 locations in Southern Louisiana. Jeepers are very passionate about their rides and we at Ricky Smith’s Audio share their passion for upgrades on vehicles of all types including marine and powersports,” Neveu concluded.

Byron Jensen, a member of the Ricky Smith’s Audio Team, is pictured with Santa and his lovely Elf.

In 1977 Ricky Smith opened his doors in Lafayette, LA in the South College Shopping Center where the flagship store remains today. In the forty-plus years since the business has expanded throughout Southern Louisiana and now boasts locations in Abbeville and New Iberia as well as an in-house service department.

Visit rickysmithsaudio.com for more.

Louisiana Jeepers and Ricky Smith’s Audio Hold Hurricane Laura Supply Drive

LAFAYETTE, LA (09.09.2020) – Louisiana Jeepers hosted a supply drive for those impacted by Hurricane Laura on Saturday, September 5th. The shopping center parking lot, on busy Johnson Street in front of Ricky Smith’s Audio in Lafayette, was the site of the donation drive.

One of the trailers loaded full of donations on Saturday by Louisiana Jeepers.

Ricky Smith’s Audio’s Alan Benit related “There were over 30 members of Louisiana Jeepers who were under tents out front working to receive and pack the donations. As a group Jeepers really work together. The event was from 9AM until 1PM. They packed 3 trailers full of much needed supplies for people needing help from Hurricane Laura. Right at the end a Harley Davidson group came with even more donations.”

Tables set up underneath tents in the Ricky Smith’s Audio parking lot on Saturday to help those impacted by Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles.

Louisiana Jeepers set up tents and tables to receive donations. Large boxes were on site to pack donated items onto the trailers for Sunday’s 75 mile trip west on I-10 from Lafayette to Lake Charles.

Jeeps from Louisiana Jeepers members parked in the lot as they helped gather donations headed to Lake Charles.

Cases of bottled water, powdered drink packets, non-perishable food items, diapers, empty gas cans, Igloo coolers, batteries, extension cords, paper towels, toilet paper and cleaning supplies were some of the popular items donated by concerned citizens during the Saturday donation drive.

Over the past years, Ricky Smith’s Audio has hosted a number of Jeep specific events in the parking lot for area Jeep enthusiasts.

Benit was behind the camera for the images in this article.

Visit rickysmithsaudio.com and facebook.com/LouisianaJeepers for more.