Quarterly Newsletter - Feeding Futures (August 2024)
Welcome Mary Pritchard
Feeding Louisiana is excited to announce the appointment of Mary Pritchard as the new Director of Policy and Advocacy. With an extensive background in policy development and advocacy, Mary brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to combating hunger and food insecurity in Louisiana.
As Director of Policy and Advocacy, Mary will be instrumental in advancing Feeding Louisiana's advocacy efforts, working closely with government officials, community leaders, and partner organizations to address the root causes of hunger and to promote policies that support food security. Her leadership will be key in shaping and implementing strategies that amplify the voices of those affected by hunger and ensure that their needs are met through effective policy solutions.
Feeding Louisiana is confident that Mary Pritchard's appointment will strengthen its advocacy work and enhance its ability to serve communities across the state. Please join us in welcoming Mary to the Feeding Louisiana team.
Harvesting Hope Conference Brings Together Food Bank Staff and Anti-Hunger Advocates
On Tuesday, June 25th, Feeding Louisiana hosted the Harvesting Hope conference for Food Bank staff and other anti-hunger advocates from across the state. The event offered attendees a chance to share best practices and strengthen their skills in SNAP Education, SNAP Outreach, Agency Relations, Childhood Nutrition, Food Procurement, and Leadership.
A special thank you to the Harvesting Hope Guest Speakers who played a major role in making the conference a success:
- Ami McReynolds: Chief Equity Officer, Feeding America
- De'Angela Cagnolatti: ES Program Manager, SNAP Ed/SNAP Outreach, Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services
- Allison Rigsby: SNAP Director, Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services
- Cynthia Jackson: Director of Member Engagement, Feeding America
- Stephanie Loup MPH, RD, LDN: Executive Director of Nutrition, Louisiana Department of Education
- Diane Letson: Vice President, Food Industry Partnerships, Feeding America
- Jayne Wright-Velez: Executive Director, Food Bank of Central Louisiana
- Joy Banner, Ph.D: Co-Founder and Co-Director, The Descendants Project
- Lori Pilley, Director of Volunteer and Disaster Services, Volunteer Louisiana
Breaking Barriers Insight Report
The Breaking Barriers Insight Report gives a closer look at the challenges our neighbors face when trying to access food, food assistance, and/or Medicaid. Through surveys, focus groups, and one on one interviews, Feeding Louisiana's team has worked diligently to identify what these barriers are and establish ways we can best help neighbors overcome them.
Nourish Line Call Center Expanding Thanks to Grant
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation extends a $97,576.25 grant to Feeding Louisiana to provide vital social services through Nourish Line.
The grant from Blue Cross Foundation will provide the resources needed to hire two additional Neighbor Service Coordinators. Growing Nourish Line is critical in helping the estimated 269,000 households in Louisiana who qualify for SNAP but are not enrolled.
Growing to Feed Our Communities
Feeding Louisiana is thrilled to share the incredible news of our organization's growth over the past five years. From Fiscal Year 2020 to Fiscal Year 2024, our revenue has surged from $1,721,910 to an impressive $12,792,612. This represents a remarkable growth of approximately 643%.
This significant increase in revenue is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team, partners, and supporters. It reflects our unwavering commitment to addressing food insecurity and ensuring that every Louisianan has access to nutritious food.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to this success, from our generous donors to our dedicated volunteers and staff. Your support has been instrumental in helping us grow and make a more significant impact in our communities.
As we look to the future, Feeding Louisiana remains committed to our mission of feeding our communities and ensuring that no one in Louisiana goes hungry. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us.
The mission of Feeding Louisiana is to be a unified voice for Louisiana’s hungry by providing short-term food relief while seeking long-term solutions to hunger through advocacy, education, and leadership.
