LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)– In an effort to show our veterans support outside of Memorial Day and Veterans Day, the Lafayette Jockey Lot offers free booths to rent for vendors for the weekend to help veterans and first responders during July every year.

Regional director, Debbie Pirkel, explained how veterans and first responders can participate.

“They can come in any time during the month of July. Show us their military id or their local id and they’ll get a free booth.” Pirkel said.

Pirkel said the Jockey Lot staff and the owner, Wesley Ellison, loves to support those who have done so much for our community and country.

“We really like working with them, the owner’s very very dedicated to the community. He really wants to give back to the community, and what better way to do it than to do that.” Pirkel said. “Now, that’s not saying that during the year at some point, if somebody came in and was down on their luck and said I really need a booth, I’m a veteran. We’d probably give them the space, just because that’s us. We really like to do that.”

Pirkel said on any given weekend, at least a dozen vendors are veterans, selling a wide variety of items and services.

“Everything from brand new items to services to typical flee market items, estate sale items. Sometimes someone is just cleaning out grandma’s attic or their own home.” Pirkel said. “They don’t want to have a garage sale at their own home anymore. And then we have also services. So, some people come and get their taxes done by an accountant that’s been at the jockey lot for years. Cellphone repair.”

The Jockey Lot is open for shopping every Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine. Veterans and first responders don’t forget to rent your free booth before July ends.

Latest news