First Friday Memo - September 2024
From the desk of Jayne Wright-Velez, Executive Director
September 2024 / Issue 175
September is Hunger Action Month
There’s plenty of food in America; yet 67,120 people in Central Louisiana, including 23,380 local children, still don’t have the food they need to thrive. September is Hunger Action Month and the Feeding America network is calling on everyone to take one million actions against hunger. Hunger Action Month is the Feeding America network’s annual awareness effort that takes place each September to encourage everyone to engage in the movement to end hunger. Every action counts–whether you donate, advocate, volunteer or spread the word online. Let’s end hunger together.
Popeyes is Serving With Love in Cenla through a Food Love Grant
We are thrilled to be a part of the Popeyes Foundation SERVING WITH LOVE® initiative. Through our Food Love grant, the Food Bank of Central Louisiana is providing nutritious meals to Cenla families. The Popeyes Foundation's Food Love Grants program directs funds raised in-restaurant to help nonprofits provide food to those who need it in that area. What makes the Popeyes Foundation’s Food Love Grants Program unique is the inspiration stems from Popeyes’ beloved New Orleans roots, which are all about being there for their neighbors and serving communities through food. Food Love Grants are focused on ensuring everyone has a seat at the table, and can experience that homemade-style, soul warming, no matter what you don’t go hungry kind of love.
Volunteer Groups Made a Big Difference This Summer
A huge thanks to all the organizations, clubs, businesses, churches, and groups that provided teams of volunteers to sort and pack food this summer. We know our warehouses get pretty hot and stuffy when temperatures and humidity rise. An amazing 34 volunteer groups, including more than 750 individuals, endured the heat for the cause from June through August. We appreciate your dedication! Schedule your group to volunteer – any time of year – by contacting our Volunteer Coordinator, Carole Stafford, at 318-445-2773 or cstafford@fbcenla.org.
American Legion Riders Post 145 Annual Ride September 14
Please join the American Legion Riders Post 145 and help raise funds benefitting the Food Bank’s Senior Program in Vernon Parish during the 14th Annual Dennis Dow Adopt-A-Senior Ride on Saturday, September 14. For donations, tickets and information, contact an American Legion Rider or Legion Post 145, Leesville, LA at 337-238-2606.
CVS Supports SNAP Application Assistance
CVS has awarded the Food Bank of Central Louisiana a grant to support our SNAP Application Assistance program to increase access to SNAP benefits and enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of our SNAP program. CVS Health is a visionary partner of Feeding America. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CVS generously invested $250,000 toward Feeding America’s COVID Response Fund and has grown into a multi-year partnership. Support, from in-store fundraising campaigns at all CVS locations, has sustained food bank operations and programming during a time of unprecedented need.
Feeding America Addresses Equitable Food Access in Central Louisiana
Feeding America has awarded the Food Bank of Central Louisiana funding to improve access to nutritious food among people experiencing the highest rates of food insecurity, with a focus on communities of color and/or people living in rural communities. This three-year grant will support Cenla’s rural and underserved communities through the food bank’s Mobile Pantry Program.
Good Food Project Dives into Aquaponics
Aquaponics is a form of agriculture that combines raising fish in tanks (recirculating aquaculture) with soilless plant culture (hydroponics). In aquaponics, the nutrient-rich water from raising fish provides a natural fertilizer for the plants and the plants help to purify the water for the fish. The Food Bank’s Good Food Project has been piloting an Aquaponics system in our Demonstration Garden. Our goal is to have the system seeded with heavy-feeding plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers and squash, later this Fall, with a target first harvest by the New Year.
Energy Transfer Grants Funds for Food Distribution in Sabine Parish
Energy Transfer has longstanding commitments to strengthen local communities, focusing on critical issues such as disaster relief, youth services, as well as hunger and health among others. “We are proud to partner with the Food Bank of Central Louisiana to help address the critical issue of hunger in Louisiana,” said Vicki Granado, Vice President of Communications for Energy Transfer. “Throughout our 28-year history, we have been committed to making a difference in the communities in which we live and work, and we know that these funds will assist in combating hunger for many families in Louisiana.” This grant will ensure that families in Sabine Parish have access to food bank services at mobile pantry events.
