Food for Thought

We’re extremely grateful for the countless donations of food we receive every month at Second Harvest Food Bank. But what happens after you drop off your donation? Here’s what happens: Weighed – Every day, we weigh all donations to ensure proper oversight of each and every item. Though we receive millions of pounds of donations... Read More

Second Harvest Food Bank celebrated the grand opening of the School Pantry program at Paul Breaux Middle School in Lafayette. The program is an innovative way to bring food pantry resources into the school setting. Each School Pantry site hosts after-school food distributions at times convenient for working parents. The distribution provides families with both... Read More

(Courtesy theadvocate.com) Acadiana families in need now have a place to shop for nutritious food for their tables as part of a new food pantry program offered by Second Harvest — their child’s neighborhood school. The program is an extension of Second Harvest’s Backpack Program, which sends children home with snacks and quick-fix meal options for... Read More

As the price of oil and natural gas remains at historic lows, many Louisiana residents unexpectedly find themselves in need of the services of Second Harvest Food Bank. Rayne resident Rex Simmons is one of those unemployed workers struggling to make ends meet. He’s been looking for work for more than 10 months. “I was... Read More

The Second Harvest Mobile Pantry Program is an ambitious project that delivers food to areas of South Louisiana without access to grocery stores and food pantries. “Every week, our Mobile Pantries bring thousands of pounds of much-needed produce, meat, dairy and other products to under-served areas,” according to Second Harvest Director of Programs and Services... Read More

Every week, more than 120 New Orleans students spend their hours after school at The Roots of Music, one many local non-profit after-school programs that give children a safe and secure place to go after  the school day ends. And every day, each of those children receives a free meal provided by Second  Harvest Food... Read More

(Second Harvest President and CEO Natalie Jayroe looks back on the ten years since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita)  As I sat in my Memphis home on August 30, 2005, watching the horror of the broken levees unfold on CNN, I immediately knew where I  wanted to be. I had been asked to help turn around a struggling food... Read More

It was one of the worst disasters in American history: Hundreds of thousands of homes flooded, more than 1,800 dead, and millions of lives disrupted. Ten years after Hurricane Katrina, many areas of New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana have bounced back stronger than ever. However, in other neighborhoods, hunger is a problem yet to be... Read More

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... Read More

Every day, thousands of South Louisiana students head straight from school to after-school programs. Many of the most at-risk students receive a hot meal while there, thanks to the Second Harvest “Kids Cafe” program. Ariska Everett is the Director of the Sojourner Truth Community Center, one of the after-school locations participating in this nutrition program. Her... Read More

As one of the largest food banks in the Gulf South, Second Harvest helps support the mission of more than 450 local food-related organizations across 23 parishes. This requires the work of dozens of employees and thousands of volunteers at our warehouses in Harahan and Lafayette, facilities totaling nearly 200,000 square feet. Our communities and... Read More

This year, the Second Harvest Community Kitchen will provide thousands of free, nutritious meals to local children throughout the ten-week summer break. According to Second Harvest’s Community Kitchen Director Gina Melita, dozens of partner organizations will receive freshly prepared, nutritious breakfasts, lunches, and snacks each day during their summer programming, entirely free of charge. “Most... Read More