A Winter Holiday Story

On this longest night of the year, with colder weather taking hold, people come together to celebrate a myriad of winter holidays. These celebrations include gift giving, rituals from many cultures, reflections on the past year, and food. But what about our neighbors struggling to put food on the table? What do these holidays look like for them?

This month alone, Louisiana’s 5 regional food banks will distribute more than 6.5 million pounds of food, or approximately 5.5 million meals, to our neighbors in Louisiana who are struggling to make ends meet. Food bank staff see seniors, working parents, and children walk through their doors daily. For these neighbors, the holiday season of celebration and gratitude is often overshadowed by the stress of whether there will be enough to share a meal with family and friends.

Consider a neighbor we met while waiting in line at a food pantry for the first time. Jess had recently become disabled after a lifetime of working and was surviving on $200 a week. She was also struggling with getting her insurance to repair her roof years after Hurricane Ida had damaged it. The local food pantry was the only way for Jess to keep food on her table. With deep cuts to her income and the cost of groceries increasing Jess could not even thing of the upcoming holidays. While she waited in line, we also helped her apply for Medicaid to alleviate the medication costs that she incurs monthly for her diabetes. Individuals and families like Jess are why we come to work every day, knowing that if we make a difference in one person’s life, we succeed.

Food insecurity is rising in our communities, across Louisiana, and in the nation. In Louisiana, 1 in 7 adults and 1 in 5 children are food insecure. Like many of us, our neighbors are forced to scale down holiday meals or skip them altogether as the cost of food and other necessities rises. No one should go hungry, especially during the holidays. That’s why Feeding Louisiana stands by the five regional food banks who are ready to serve any neighbors needing a helping hand. With the purchase of local food products, Louisiana’s food banks can offer wholesome options to help our neighbors celebrate the holidays.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, food banks and the charitable food network depend on strong community support. Last year, Louisiana’s 5 regional food banks distributed nearly 80 million pounds of food to Louisianans. By leveraging public and private dollars, Louisiana’s food banks will be able to make this holiday season brighter for those suffering food insecurity. Please consider donating your time or funds to help us continue the work that we are doing for our neighbors across the state.

Thank you, and may your holidays be filled with good cheer and abundant good food!