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A Message from Jon

As summer comes to a close and families begin preparing for a new school year, many across South Louisiana are thinking about routines, school supplies, and what the months ahead will bring.

For many of our neighbors, it is also a time of real pressure.

It is a parent trying to stretch the grocery budget one more week. It is a grandparent stepping in to raise children and wondering how to keep enough food in the house. It is a family carrying the strain of summer straight into the school year.

In this issue of Food for Thought, you’ll read about caregivers like Mr. Jeff, a grandfather raising his grandchildren and doing everything he can to keep food on the table. You’ll learn about our Community Kitchens, where meals are prepared and delivered to children during the summer. And you’ll read about school pantries and volunteers working to serve the community.

What I am proud of is the way our region responds when neighbors need help. Donors give. Volunteers show up. Pantry partners open their doors. Staff members keep the work moving. That is how families get support they can count on.

The truth is that hunger does not ease up just because the season changes. As the school year begins, many children and families will still need help. Your support helps put food on the table, supports caregivers, and gives families a little more stability as they head into the months ahead.

Thank you for standing with Second Harvest and with the families we serve.

With gratitude,
Jon Toups
President & CEO

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