First Friday Memo - May 2024
From the desk of Jayne Wright-Velez, Executive Director
May 2024 / Issue 171
Give CENLA is May 6-10.
Give CENLA (previously known as Cenla Giving Day) is a yearly digital fundraising initiative that links donors with Central Louisiana nonprofits and their financial requirements. This event aims to increase awareness of the vital contributions nonprofits make to our communities, encouraging generous giving to foster a more vibrant and resilient CENLA for everyone! Give CENLA is a program of the Central Louisiana Community Foundation. Donate here: https://www.givecenla.org.
Recruiting Now for Summer Service Opportunities.
The food bank is looking for a few dedicated individuals to serve with our AmeriCorps team over the summer. This is a perfect opportunity for college students and graduating high school seniors – or anyone looking for a summer experience. Benefits include a bi-weekly paid living allowance AND an education award at the end of the summer that can be used for tuition or student loans. The summer term runs May 20 – August 15. Snap the QR code to apply now.
Looking for Healthy Meals for your Summer Program?
Partner with the Food Bank of Central Louisiana and Louisiana Department of Education to bring the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) to central Louisiana at no cost to the participating site. SFSP combats hunger and brings healthy foods to tables across the country for children in at-risk areas during the summer, when school meals are not available. The Food Bank of Central Louisiana provides much needed support for day care centers, group homes, emergency shelters, day camps, library programs and others wanting to participate in SFSP. Contact Lakrishia at the food bank for more information: 318-445-2773 or lbrossette@fbcenla.org.
Last Chance to Double Your Donation!
Through the end of May, Atmos Energy will match every donation to the Food Bank of Central Louisiana 1 to 1, doubling every dollar gifted, up to $21,000. Your $50 donation will be matched with $50. Your $100 donation will be matched with $100. Your $500 donation will be matched with $500. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to make another gift (or a first one!), there’s no time like the present! Thanks so much to Atmos Energy for their years of community support.
Visit the Food Bank’s Booth at Paragon’s Health & Wellness Expo.
The Food Bank is participating in Paragon Casino Resort’s Health & Wellness Expo on May 4 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Stop by our booth to learn more about our programs, including SNAP Outreach, Good Food Project, Senior Nutrition Program, and Child Nutrition Programs.
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.
Mother’s Day is May 12. Help Support Moms Facing Hunger.
Mothers are especially vulnerable to food insecurity, so this Mother’s Day, we’d like to share a few facts that pertain to many of the people who visit our food bank.
Mothers are typically the managers of food in the household. Mothers in food-insecure households adopt coping strategies to keep their children fed. They often forego their own medication, skip meals, and give the healthiest food to the kids instead of themselves.
Food insecurity is dangerous during pregnancy. Poor prenatal nutrition can lead to complications with pregnancy and birth; and affect the growth, development and long-term health of the child.
Louisiana ranks #48 in the percentage of eligible families accessing WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) benefits.
Single moms face hunger more than anyone else in the US. One in every three single-mother households in America experiences food insecurity.
The Food Bank of Central Louisiana serves an average of 13,500 women and girls each month.
The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Will Be Held on May 11.
For more than 30 years, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) has conducted an annual nationwide food drive on the second Saturday in May.
The country's largest one-day food drive provides residents with an easy way to donate food to those in need. Customers simply leave their donation of non-perishable food items next to their mailbox before the delivery of the mail on Saturday, May 11. The timing is important, with food banks, pantries and shelters running low on donations from the winter holidays and with summer approaching, when most school meal programs are suspended.
On May 11, people are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, canned meats and fish, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox before the regular mail delivery on Saturday. As they deliver mail that day, the nation's 200,000 letter carriers will collect the donations residents have left near their mailboxes. Locally, the food will be donated to the Food Bank of Central Louisiana.
The Food Bank of Central Louisiana is Hiring!
As we continue to grow, we find ourselves in need of additional help in a variety of positions. The work can be hard – in rain, wind, sun, or blistering heat – but we go home every day knowing we made a difference. To view our openings, search for Food Bank of Central Louisiana on Indeed.com or use this url: https://t.ly/NDi-g.
