Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Cooked Up Big Funds for Suicide Prevention and Other Services  

Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Cooked Up Big Funds for Suicide Prevention and Other Services

 

The 2024 East and West St. Tammany Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Cook-Offs were a resounding success. More than just a culinary competition, this annual event brought our community together to savor delicious flavors, foster friendly rivalries, and raise vital funds for much-needed mental health resources.  

Local law enforcement agencies, fire fighters, first responders, government offices, businesses, and community members rally every year for this fan-favorite fundraiser for suicide prevention and other United Way programs serving St. Tammany Parish.      

Mental health is a significant, yet often hidden, issue in our community. In 2020, suicide was the third leading cause of death among individuals aged 10-34 in Louisiana. Together, we can help prevent these tragedies by ensuring that mental health and crisis support are available to everyone, everywhere. The 2024 cook-offs raised $37,256 to support these efforts.  

Thank you to our presenting sponsors for their generous support of this event. We couldn’t do it without you.   

West St. Tammany Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Sponsors: LOOP LLC., St. Tammany Health System, and Ochsner Northshore   

East St. Tammany Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Sponsors: Slidell Memorial Hospital, Ochsner Northshore, Pelican Urgent Care, and Verizon   

Thank you to Camellia Beans for supplying the red beans for our cooking teams and to all our attendees for making our 2024 cook-offs a major success. We would like to shout out Closets By Design for donating 100% of their 50/50 prize back to the cause.  

And we can’t forget our beloved Chris Kaufmann, Chief of Fire Protection District No. 1, who we honored with a hand-blown glass red bean for 20 years of volunteerism with United Way and the East Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Cook-off. 

Without further ado, here are this year’s award winners: 

 

West St. Tammany Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Winners  

Judges’ Pick - Best Beans  

  • First Place: Atmos  

  • Second Place: JD Bank  

  • Third Place: Covington Fire Department  

People’s Choice - Best Beans  

  • First Place: LOOP LLC  

  • Honorable Mention: Aetna  

Best Decorated Booth  

  • First Place: Covington Fire Department  

  • Honorable Mention: LOOP LLC  

Best Dessert  

  • First Place: St. Tammany Fire District #9  

  • Honorable Mention: Covington Police Department  

Community Spirit  

  • First Place: St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office  

  • Honorable Mention: LOOP LLC 

Police Battle of the Badge Award  

  • Covington Police Department 

Fireman Helmet Award 

  • Covington Fire Department  

  

East St. Tammany Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Winners  

Judges’ Pick - Best Beans  

  • First Place: St. Tammany Parish Government  

  • Second Place: Rotary Club of Slidell  

  • Third Place: Holy Spirit Street Church  

People’s Choice – Best Beans  

  • First Place: Holy Spirit Street Church  

  • Honorable Mention: Slidell Firefighters Association  

Best Decorated Booth  

  • First Place: Krewe of Poseidon  

  • Honorable Mention: Silver Slipper Casino Hotel  

Best Dessert  

  • First Place: Slidell Police Association  

  • Honorable Mention: St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office  

Community Spirit  

  • First Place: St. Tammany Sherriff’s Office  

  • Honorable Mention: Holy Spirit Street Church 

  

View photos from both events here.  

West St. Tammany Photos   

East St. Tammany Photos    

  

 

Sonja NewmanLiving United,   

 

Sonja Newman
Northshore Executive Director
United Way of Southeast Louisiana