Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana
Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, founded in 1982, is a pivotal organization providing food access, advocacy, education, and disaster response, distributing over 32 million meals annually across 23 parishes.
History
Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana was founded in 1982 by Archbishop Philip M. Hannan, Bishop Roger P. Morin, and Gregory Ben Johnson. The organization became globally significant in September 2005 following Hurricane Katrina, distributing more than 75 million pounds of food over two years. Hurricane Katrina marked a pivotal moment for the food bank, as it became the largest food bank in the world's history during this period.
Services
Second Harvest Food Bank provides a range of services including food access, advocacy, education, and disaster response. The organization operates food distribution programs, community kitchen meal services, nutrition education, and public benefits assistance. They offer mobile pantry services delivering fresh produce and perishable foods. Additional programs include after-school Kids Cafe and Summer Feeding programs, the Senior Cafe program, and the Backpack Program aimed at reducing childhood hunger. Client Services also helps clients achieve economic stability by providing access to additional public and private resources.
Programs
Second Harvest Food Bank runs multiple programs to address food insecurity. The Kids Cafe and Summer Feeding programs provide meals and snacks to children. The Senior Cafe program prepares and distributes freshly made meals to senior centers daily. The Backpack Program is designed to reduce childhood hunger by supplying food for weekends and school holidays. Additionally, mobile pantry services deliver fresh produce and perishable foods to areas where resources are scarce.
Community Partners
Second Harvest Food Bank partners with over 700 community programs and partners across 23 parishes. These partnerships enhance the organization's ability to distribute the equivalent of more than 32 million meals annually to over 210,000 people. With facilities in New Orleans and Lafayette, these collaborations are vital in providing widespread food access and resources to the populations in need.
Facilities
Second Harvest Food Bank operates facilities in New Orleans and Lafayette. These locations serve as hubs for the organization's food distribution, disaster response, and various community programs. The facilities enable effective management and disbursement of millions of meals and nutritional assistance across the 23 parishes they serve. Mobile pantries also extend the reach of the facilities by delivering fresh produce and perishable foods directly to areas with limited resources.