St. Tammany Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Cook-Offs Raised Nearly $34k for Suicide Prevention, Other Programs 

The 2023 East and West St. Tammany Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Cook-Offs was a sizzling success. As always, we served up delicious beans, stirred up friendly rivalries, and raised funds for a great cause. 

 

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

 

Mental health is a serious and 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 mental health and crisis support is available to everyone, everywhere. The 2023 cook-offs raised 33,887 to support these efforts, the most we’ve raised since the COVID pandemic. 

 

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: SMH, Ochsner Northshore, and Verizon  

Thank you to Camellia Beans for supplying the red beans for our cooking teams. 

And thank you to all our attendees for making our 2023 cook-offs a major success.  

Now – in case you missed it – here are the winners!  

 

West St. Tammany Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Winners 

 

Best Decorated Booth 

  • First Place: Covington Firefighters Association 
  • Honorable Mention: Clerk of Court Mellissa Henry 

Best Dessert 

  • First Place: Aetna Better Health LA 
  • Honorable Mention: Rain Carbon, Inc. 

Community Spirit 

  • St. Tammany Parish Sherriff’s Office 

People’s Choice - Best Beans 

  • Loop LLC. 

Judges’ Pick - Best Beans 

  • First Place: St. Tammany Parish Government 
  • Second Place: Covington Firefighter’s Association 
  • Third Place: Mandeville Police Department 

 

East St. Tammany Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Winners 

 

Best Decorated Booth 

  • First Place: Krewe of Poseidon 
  • Honorable Mention: In- Telecom 

Best Dessert 

  • First Place: East St. Tammany Rainbow Child Care 
  • Honorable Mention: JD Bank 

Community Spirit 

  • St. Tammany Sherriff’s Office 

People’s Choice – Best Beans 

  • St. Tammany Parish Government 

Judges’ Pick - Best Beans 

  • First Place: Jessica Jenkins for St. Tammany Clerk of Court 
  • Second Place: Slidell Firefighters Association 
  • Third Place: JD Bank  

 

View photos from both events here. 

West St. Tammany Photos 

East St. Tammany Photos 

 

Living United,  

 

Sonja Newman  

Director, Resource Development 

United Way of Southeast Louisiana