By Rebecca Chaisson
Managing Editor
Love the Boot Week, Louisiana’s statewide anti-litter campaign, wrapped up Saturday, but one local resident is determined to keep the momentum going long after the official cleanup ends.
Donna Baltakis, president of the Bulb & Blossom Garden Club and longtime director of Keep Eunice Beautiful, has turned her personal gratitude into a community-wide mission. For more than a decade, she has rallied volunteers to pick up trash, beautify neighborhoods, and show pride in the city that welcomed her family with open arms.
“When I was growing up, I saw an ad on TV of an American Indian with a tear rolling down his face, asking us to keep America beautiful,” Baltakis recalled with a warm smile. “That hit me as a kid.”
In 2010, she saw coverage of the Love the Boot effort and approached Eunice’s mayor about joining. After two years of planning, Keep Eunice Beautiful became an official affiliate of Keep Louisiana Beautiful in 2012. The group has participated every year since.
Baltakis, who has lived in Eunice for 30 years, sees her volunteer work as a way of giving back. Her family received support when they needed it most, and she refuses to sit on the sideline watching others get to work.
That determination runs deep. As a small child, Baltakis was diagnosed with polio, a disease that can cause paralysis or even death. She was a “March of Dimes baby” in Ohio and received significant support growing up. She went on to graduate from college and build a career.
Then, shortly after turning 40, she suffered a fall that revealed she was experiencing post-polio syndrome. The condition brought new paralysis, forcing her into wheelchairs and leg braces and ending her ability to continue her work.
When her husband, Tony, accepted a teaching position as a history professor at LSU Eunice, the couple moved to the city. Rather than withdraw, Baltakis channeled her energy into community service.
“I wanted to give back, and I take pride in keeping my community clean,” she said from her wheelchair during a short break. “This was my idea. I can do the managing and the marketing for it — but these volunteers serve as my legs.”
For the 2026 Love the Boot Week, which celebrated America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, Baltakis encouraged local participants to pick up 250 pieces of trash. She estimated over 200 people turned out, including the LSUE softball team, nursing students and student government; St. Edmund, Eunice High and Eunice Junior High students; the VFW; Mardi Gras queens; Lakeview Park cleanup crews; the Jean Lafitte Center; Satellite Club; families; businesses; local residents; Garden Club members; and library and girl scouts.
“It’s so nice to see families come together,” she added. “We even have grandparents cleaning areas with their grandkids.”
Baltakis works closely with the city year-round to identify problem spots. Keep Louisiana Beautiful conducts an annual “litter index” that grades neighborhoods on cleanliness, and her group prioritizes the areas with the lowest scores.
The impact has been recognized before. Baltakis has previously been honored for her leadership, including as Affiliate Director of the Year by Keep Louisiana Beautiful.
From a childhood inspired by a simple television message to leading hundreds of volunteers despite physical challenges, Baltakis embodies the spirit of community service. Her efforts continue to inspire others to take care of the city year after year, just as her city continues to take care of her.
