As part of its ongoing efforts to fight hunger in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, the Bayou Community Foundation (BCF) has awarded a $2,000 grant to Second Harvest Food Bank to expand food distribution at two of its partner food pantries in the Bayou Region.

With the grant, Second Harvest has purchased a freezer, refrigerator and shelving for the Catholic Community Center food pantry in Cut Off and the Caritas Food Pantry on the campus of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Houma, which will allow both sites to provide meat, perishable foods and more packaged food items to needy residents.

“Our Lafourche and Terrebonne communities were already experiencing rising food insecurity among residents before the pandemic. Over the past year, that need has grown significantly and our local food banks are working diligently to fill the food gap,” said BCF President Henry Lafont. “We are pleased to award this special grant to Second Harvest to help these two local food banks feed more families right here at home.”

The $2,000 BCF grant was made possible by contributions to the foundation’s Second Harvest Fund, designed to lead the fight against hunger and build food security in Terrebonne, Lafourche and Grand Isle.

“There is a big need for fresh food and groceries in our Bayou parishes.  We are grateful for the support from the Bayou Community Foundation to serve more hungry families, children, and seniors in Cut Off and Houma,” said Natalie Jayroe, President and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank.

The Catholic Community Center in Cut Off became a Second Harvest food pantry partner in 2020 and serves about 100 families per month.  As a Second Harvest partner, the Center has access to more food resources, enabling them to serve even more residents.  BCF grant funds were used to purchase a freezer for the food pantry.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux recently opened the new Caritas Food Pantry in east Houma, where many of the city’s homeless are located and where many residents face barriers to transportation.  The pantry will serve approximately 500 families per month.  A refrigerator and shelving were purchased with BCF grant funds.

“The Caritas Food Pantry has only been open for a few weeks, and the demand for food assistance has been tremendous,” said Catholic Charities Executive Director Nicole Bourgeois.  “We are grateful to Bayou Community Foundation and Second Harvest for helping us meet the needs of our homeless and hungry in east Houma.”