Feeding Louisiana Receives $6 Million to Meet Immediate Needs of Member Food Banks
Food banks and pantries across the State of Louisiana are facing a significant challenge in meeting the growing demand for food assistance.
Soaring food prices and a decline in retail donations have resulted in thinly stocked shelves, making it increasingly difficult to feed the hungry, particularly during this time of year.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Feeding Louisiana has received a substantial boost with a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) of $6 million.
This grant, provided by the State of Louisiana Office of Community Development, will assist food banks in replenishing their supplies and meeting immediate needs. However, it falls short of fully addressing the total requirements of the food banks.
Commenting on the grant, Pat R. Van Burkleo, executive director of Feeding Louisiana, expressed gratitude for the funds, stating, "While these dollars are appreciated and much needed, they do not fully meet the pressing needs of our food banks. We continue to work tirelessly to secure additional resources to ensure that no one in our communities goes hungry."
First Ever SNAP Ed Workshop a Success
Feeding Louisiana hosted its first SNAP Ed Development Workshop on June 20th at the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank!
Nutrition Educators across the state were able to learn from the experts on intervention methods, SNAP Ed policies, and even do a little cooking themselves!
Training and workshops included speakers from the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services, Create Better Health Utah, Market Umbrella, Feeding Louisiana, and LSU Ag Center.
It’s Official Summer Feeding Season!
Four of our Louisiana food banks have become Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors providing free meals to the children in their area!
Collectively, the four food banks will sponsor and provide food to 90 SFSP feeding sites across the state.
The SFSP is designed to help low-income students during the summer months who aren’t receiving free or reduced-price school meals to continue to have consistent access to meals and snacks. Louisiana program sponsors serve more than 2.5 million meals each summer.
Participating Food Banks include: Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank, Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, and Food Bank of Central Louisiana.
Uniting the Fight Against Hunger in Louisiana
This year, Feeding Louisiana has the privilege of managing the Louisiana Anti-Hunger Coalition, a statewide union of organizations committed to ending local hunger.
We are proud that we have expanded the coalition's membership and to be making headway on many important policy and advocacy issues in Louisiana!
It is exciting to be collaborating with community stakeholders and passionate organizations on initiatives like senior hunger, TEFAP federal poverty level increase, and the Hunger Free College Campus Initiative.
Marleah Walker, director of programs and outreach, and Pat Van Burkleo, executive director, serve as co-chair of the coalition.
Please check out our website for more information on the coalition and how you can get involved.
Medicaid Outreach Update
Feeding Louisiana continues to reach out to community members to assist in gaining or retaining coverage to those that qualify helping more than 600 individuals across the state thus far.
This progress comes directly from Feeding Louisiana hiring 12 Medicaid Outreach Coordinators placed at the food banks to help our neighbors navigate through Medicaid enrollment or renewal process.
With the reinstatement of the annual renewals of Medicaid eligibility that were previously on hold during the pandemic, Louisiana Medicaid is reviewing every case during the next year to see if more than 2 million recipients are still eligible for Medicaid coverage.
Feeding Louisiana Named Charity of the Month
Feeding Louisiana has been selected as the charity of the month to benefit from Winn-Dixie’s Bloomin’ 4 Good Program, created to fight hunger across the communities they serve.
For the month of July, every Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet with the red circle sticker bought from the Winn-Dixie at 8601 Siegen Lane, Baton Rouge LA will directly benefit Feeding Louisiana!
Staff Updates
NEW HIRE: Kelly Graphia
Welcome to the team Kelly!
She joins us as our new Assistant Director of Programs and Outreach.
NEW HIRE: Angela Hartman
Welcome to the team Angela!
She joins us as our new Director of Communications & Campaigns.
Thank You for Your Service: Caleb
We wish the best of luck to Caleb Strange on all his future endeavors!
The mission of Feeding Louisiana is to be a unified voice for Louisiana’s hungry by providing short-term food relief while seeking long-term solutions to hunger through advocacy, education, and leadership.
