Bringing healthy living to those in need

Second Harvest Food Bank has recently hosted health fairs in Orleans, Jefferson and Terrebonne Parishes. These events brought food, medical screenings, and healthy living services to hundreds of local residents.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to reach out beyond our four walls and meet more of the people in our communities who struggle with hunger,” said Second Harvest Client Services Manager Melanie
McGuire. “While these Health Fairs have helped hundreds of people get the extra care they need, in addition to providing nutritious food, there is still so much more to do.”

One of the people who attended the Houma Health Fair was 59 year-old Vietnam Veteran Kenneth Whalen.

“This has been a real blessing,” said Whalen, a Houma resident who now faces several major health challenges. “For this past year and a half, I’ve been going through Veterans health care. I can’t work, and without the food bank, I’d be in trouble.”

In all, the three health fairs have distributed more than 15,000 pounds of fresh food. Our mobile pantries at these events are stocked with thousands of pounds of fresh produce, given to residents in areas where the nearest grocery store may be miles away. And more health fairs are planned in the near future.

“Our next health fair will be in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans as part of the 10th anniversary commemoration of Hurricane Katrina,” McGuire said. “We also have health fairs coming up in
New Orleans East and on the Northshore. And we’re also looking for anyone who would like to underwrite the cost of our health fairs, so that we can reach even more people in need.”

95 cents of every dollar you donate to Second Harvest goes directly to programs like these. For more information about our Health Fairs, contact Melanie McGuire at 504-729-6340, or at mmcguire1@secondharvest.org.