Food for Thought

For 86-year-old Jeannie Houston, every trip to the grocery store has become more difficult. “Prices have gotten so high that I really can’t afford to buy everything I need,” she says. Jeannie is a proud grandmother of 11 grandchildren and, like so many older adults living on a fixed income, she often faces impossible choices... Read More

In November, the shelves change. Next to the eggs, milk, and fresh produce come the special items of the season, the makings of the meals South Louisiana gathers around. The list gets longer, and the table gets fuller. Everything else works like the grocery store it is. Blue baskets by the door, neighbors checking the... Read More

Nandi has raised six kids. Five are still at home, along with their dad, who runs a small landscaping business and works all over New Orleans. For years Nandi worked, too, caring for elderly people, until her own health made that impossible. Nine months ago, the family’s SNAP benefits were cut nearly in half. The... Read More

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are powerful tools to support the causes you love — but only if you put them to work! Activate the true power of your DAF today. You can give through our website or through your own DAF portal. You’ll need our EIN, which is 72-0956468. Thank you for all you do! Read... Read More

“Because it’s fun and I like helping other people.” That is how one young volunteer describes Tuesday mornings at Second Harvest’s Bayou Distribution Center in Houma, where she serves with her family. In the summer, when school is out and families feel the strain, her words carry extra meaning. This is kids helping kids. LaShondra... Read More

Mr. Jeff is raising his grandchildren, stepping into a role he never expected but embraces with unwavering love. Like many caregivers on a fixed income, he relies on careful planning and limited resources to make ends meet. During the summer months, when utility and grocery bills rise and assistance can lag, that balance becomes even... Read More

For families already facing tight budgets, the absence of school breakfast and lunch can create an immediate and urgent gap. The result is a seasonal spike in food insecurity, especially in underserved communities. Through our Community Kitchens, Second Harvest’s summer feeding program bridges this gap to ensure that the summer remains a season of reliable... Read More

At South Cameron High School, Tarpon Market – a school-based pantry named after the school’s mascot – has become a lifeline. Led in part by the school’s vice principal, Heidi Baccigalopi, and mainly supported by Second Harvest Food Bank, the pantry ensures that students and their families can access the essentials many of us take... Read More

When school doors close for summer, many children lose reliable meals. For families already stretching food budgets, the end of the school year can mean the end of daily breakfasts and lunches that children depend on. Summer quickly becomes one of the hardest times to keep kids nourished. Last summer, you helped close that gap... Read More