Food for Thought

A Message from Jon Food insecurity rates have hit a 10-year high, and that means a growing number of older neighbors are facing hunger. And recent cuts to federal funding are creating another layer of hardship, putting an extra squeeze on many household budgets. This is especially true for older neighbors living on fixed incomes.... Read More

When you give to Second Harvest Food Bank, you do more than provide a bag of groceries — you give hope, dignity, and lifesaving support to neighbors like Glen. Glen is a senior who has been battling cancer for several years. His treatment and medication are expensive, leaving little room in his budget for food.... Read More

At Second Harvest, many of our pantry partners are seniors who choose to spend their golden years volunteering and giving back. They know what hunger looks like firsthand. They’ve seen its impact in their communities, and they are determined to do something about it. One of those seniors is Gus, who has run Glad Tidings... Read More

Geraldine hasn’t been having an easy time. After a knee replacement, major neck surgery, and a fall that set her back, she needs a little extra help. “It’s a struggle,” she says. “I try to watch what I’m doing, but sometimes you just can’t help it.” Yet she still shows up to help her family.... Read More

“This is a blessing, and this is great. This helps people,” says Grace while waiting in her car, her husband beside her. At 77, she still drives each month to pick up their Senior Box through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Her husband is 81. The routine is simple: drive up, check in, wait.... Read More

Mary Thomas lives in the Lower Ninth Ward, where getting groceries used to take up most of her morning. Every time she shopped, she had to take public transportation … all the way to Chalmette. In addition to the time taken by the trip, she also had to wait over two hours between her arrival... Read More

In New Iberia, you’re helping drive a powerful partnership addressing one of the most pressing challenges local children face: food insecurity. The Boys & Girls Club transforms the lives of children and families in need. Club director D’Andre Hypolite — affectionately called “Mr. Dre” by the kids — works to create a safe, nurturing environment... Read More

In 2025, Second Harvest Food Bank opened two new distribution centers in South Louisiana. One in Lake Charles and one in Houma. Each one was built with the same purpose: to feed more people, more reliably, every day. Together, these centers mark a turning point in how we serve. These buildings aren’t the story. What... Read More

Vicki Rush and God’s Pantry Over 17 years ago, Vicki Rushing found herself in need of food assistance. When she didn’t qualify due to age restrictions — an obstacle many know too well — she was advised to contact Second Harvest. That simple piece of advice changed everything — not just meeting her immediate needs... Read More

The Bayou Region Distribution Center is having a huge impact on neighbors This summer, something big happened in the Bayou Region. Our brand-new Bayou Region Distribution Center opened its doors, and already, the impact is being felt. Every day, local trucks now deliver fresh food across the region, reaching people who used to wait for... Read More

When disaster hits, we come together and become better Twenty years after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Second Harvest is stronger than ever. When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, Second Harvest’s New Orleans warehouse was without power. With nowhere else to go, staff set up operations in an abandoned Walmart in Baker, Louisiana. It became their... Read More