July 7, 2022
The Bayou Community Foundation (BCF) awarded grants totaling $327,100 to 32 nonprofit organizations working in Lafourche, Terrebonne and Grand Isle today to fill critical needs in our coastal communities, particularly as the area recovers from Hurricane Ida.
Grants from the Foundation’s 2022 Annual Grants Program fund food and medicine distribution; baby supplies and parenting resources; housing for the homeless, and women and children in crisis; mental health counseling; addiction recovery programs; education and job training for at-risk youth; and other services that fill growing needs of residents most impacted by the hurricane.
“Faced with unimaginable challenges in the wake of Hurricane Ida, nonprofit organizations are working harder and shining brighter than ever before. Today, Bayou Community Foundation celebrates our local nonprofits that work tirelessly to help the neediest among us and demonstrate the compassion and resiliency of our unique Bayou community,” said President Henry Lafont. “Thanks to the amazing generosity of our donors, BCF is delighted to fund $327,100 in grants to 32 organizations that are feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, protecting the vulnerable and making our entire community an even better place to call home.”
Since 2013, BCF has funded 242 grants for $1.97 million through its Annual Nonprofit Grants Program, helping nonprofit organizations deliver critical human services, education, workforce development and coastal awareness programs. In addition, BCF has funded nearly $6 million in grants from the Bayou Recovery Fund since 2020, to support relief and recovery efforts following Hurricanes Ida and Zeta and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is truly the most wonderful day of the year for Bayou Community Foundation as we witness the power of philanthropy at work! With generous gifts to our Grants Fund and Bayou Recovery Fund, donors have opened their hearts and pocketbooks to help sustain these critical nonprofit programs and support our community on our road to recovery,” said Executive Director Jennifer Armand. “We thank our grantees for their important work and our donors for making today’s grants possible. Giving makes great things happen!”
Donors to Bayou Community Foundation’s 2022 Grants Program include The Gheens Foundation, Chevron, Callais Family Fund, and many local individuals, families and businesses who are passionate about our coastal community and its hurricane recovery.
“At Chevron, we believe in contributing to the communities where we live and work,” said Leah Brown, Public Affairs Manager for Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico Business Unit. “We’re proud to support the Bayou Community Foundation and their mission to build and sustain Lafourche Parish, Terrebonne Parish, and Grand Isle. We look forward seeing the positive impact these grants will produce in the near term, as well as what we can continue to accomplish together in the future.”
“The Bayou Community Foundation grant will support our current efforts to provide housing for mothers and their babies, and fund our new Diaper Bank to distribute diapers, wipes and formula and fill basic baby needs that are costly and in short supply,” said Amanda Oden, Executive Director of nonprofit Lifted by Love. “We hope to be able to provide more support on a larger scale on a more frequent basis so families have the resources they need for their children to thrive. We are grateful for the continued support of Bayou Community Foundation and excited to share our latest project with the families in our community,”
The following 32 organizations received grants from BCF totaling $327,100 during a ceremony today at the Larose Civic Center:
A Place of Restoration – $10,000 – Construction of family recovery and educational development center
Bayou Civic Club – $10,000 – Repair and replace tables, benches and canopies around Larose Regional Park
Beacon Light Baptist Church – $10,000 – Distribution of food and supplies at food pantry in northern Terrebonne Parish
Bunkhouse Shelter, Inc. – $10,000 – Emergency shelter and hot meals for homeless in Terrebonne & Lafourche
CASA of Terrebonne – $10,000 – Recruitment and training for new CASA volunteers
Catholic Charities Houma-Thibodaux – $55,000 – Caritas food bank and mobile food pantry in East Houma
Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center – $10,000 – Parenting program, emergency fund for clients in crisis
Faith Ministries, International – $7,000 – Distribution of food and household supplies to the needy
Fletcher Tech Comm College Foundation – $10,000 – Industry certification courses for Falcon Academy students
Friends of P.A.C.T. Place – $3,350 – Parent Café sessions to support and strengthen families in crisis
Girls on the Run Bayou Region – $2,500 – Curriculum & supplies for life skills program in Terrebonne & Lafourche
Helio Foundation – $10,000 – Food distributed at Mom’s Pantry in four Lafourche & Terrebonne schools
Hope Extreme – $13,250 – Hope Fridges in East Houma to provide fresh food to those in need
Hope Restored Pregnancy Resource Center – $10,000 – Parenting & healthy relationship education for fathers
Jacob’s Ladder – $5,000 – Addiction recovery programs & industry certification training for incarcerated individuals
Junior Auxiliary of Houma – $3,000 – Mental and physical wellness activities for senior citizens in Terrebonne
Lafourche Education Foundation – $10,000 – Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and grants for new teachers
Lifted by Love – $14,000 – Diaper Bank and transitional housing program for 25 young women and children
LUMCON – $5,000 – Marine science programs for students at under-resourced schools in Lafourche & Terrebonne
MacDonell Children’s Services – $12,000 – Renovation of dormitory for Qualified Residential Treatment Program
New Life Counseling Center – $10,000 – Reduced-cost mental health counseling for under-served residents
Second Harvest Food Bank – $10,000 – Three million pounds of food for distribution at local food banks
St. Francis Vegetable Garden – $10,000 – Improvements at six gardens that provide vegetables to community
St. Vincent de Paul Tri-Parish Pharmacy – $10,000 – Medications provided at no charge to poor and elderly
Terrebonne ARC – $10,000 – Technology to enrich Options Plus Community Engagement Day Program activities
Terrebonne Churches United Food Bank – $10,000 – Food distributions serving senior citizens
Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence – $10,000 – Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
The Haven – $10,000 – Domestic Violence Flexible Housing Fund providing safe homes for 30-45 families in need
Upside Downs, Inc. – $5,000 – Annual community event for young people with disabilities and their families
VIA Link – $5,000 – Teen Crisis Textline, Parentline/Child Abuse Hotline and suicide support groups
Wallace Community Center – $5,000 – Beyond the Bell after-school program for needy youth in Alidore community
Women’s Restoration of Houma –$12,000– Pressure washer to expand work opportunities for program participants