For many parents who are struggling, finding time to go to a local food pantry during the day is often hard to do. The new School Pantry Program from Second Harvest is making it easier for working parents to visit a pantry after-hours in their children’s own schools.

Crystal Bowie manages the new school pantry at Lafayette’s Paul Breaux Middle School. She has seen a direct impact upon both hungry families and other students who help run the program.

“It means so much. We’re providing nutritious meals to children who may not get meals outside of school. And it provides leadership opportunities for other students to take care of the pantry like a grocery store,” she said.

Thanks to your support and corporate partners such as Morgan

Stanley, First Federal Bank of Louisiana, Raising Cane’s and Disney, school pantries like the one at Paul Breaux make it possible for students to get the extra meals at home they may be going without.

Second Harvest President and CEO Natalie Jayroe talked about the tremendous effect of school-based programs like this. “When you see a child at one of our programs hold an apple for the first time, and they sing a song about how delicious it is, and treat it like a Christmas present... First, as a mother, my heart breaks, but then I feel grateful that we have the means to help try to solve that. It just takes community support.”

Miss Bowie can relate to these students in need. She was once one herself.

“As a child, I had a hard-working mother who walked to work. My dad’s priorities were misplaced, and

she had to carry the mortgage, the bills and provide for her children,” Miss Bowie told us. “Utilities would sometimes get cut off, and there were times of hunger. Sometimes our only meals would come at school, or help from a local pantry. I empathize because I’ve been there. And I wonder, what would I have become if our community hadn’t helped us?”

For more information about our School Pantry Program, please contact Kim Krupa at kkrupa@secondharvest.org or at 504-729-6330.

FEBRUARY 2016

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Leading the fight against hunger and building food security in South Louisiana by providing food access, advocacy, education and disaster response.FOOD FOR THOUGHT

School Pantries: Helping Students Outside of Class

Run (or Walk) to Support Second HarvestThe “Run For It” program is the Official Charity Program of the Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic. The goal of the “Run For It” program is to raise $1 million annually and serve the Greater New Orleans area’s needs. Each year, the Crescent City Fitness Foundation selects local charities to support and partner with for the 10k race, by donating 100 charity bib numbers (guaranteed race entries) to each Charity Partner for the Crescent City Classic.

Second Harvest is thrilled to be one of the Official Charity Partners for 2016. We will recruit 100 charity runners/walkers, who commit to raising a minimum of $200 by race day (March 26, 2016). All of the money raised by our 100 charity runners/walkers will be donated directly to Second Harvest. To register, go to www.no-hunger.org/events

Charity Runner Perks & Incentives: Unique Charity bib number • Unique Charity race t-shirt • Prime starting location on race day in the “Charity Corral” positioned right behind Seeded Runners • Access to nice bathrooms race morning in Champions Square • Access to Second Harvest’s private party tent after the race • Prizes including a chance to win a five-day cruise for four on the Carnival Triumph.

In accordance with federal law and US Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call toll-free 866-632-9992 (voice.) Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the federal relay service at 800-877-8339; or 800-845-6136 (Spanish.) USDA is an equal-opportunity provider and employer.

“We’re providing nutritious meals to children who may not get meals outside of school. ”- Crystal Bowie Pantry Manager at Paul Breaux Middle School in Lafayette

Our supporters expect the highest level of vigilance from us when it comes to food safety, efficiency of operations, and stewardship of the dollars donated to us. We’re happy to report recent top-to-bottom professional audits and reviews of our organization show the quality of our operations and mission.

These accolades are a wonderful testament to the dedication of our staff and volunteers. Still, we continue to strive to improve efficiency, safety, and the overall ways we provide food and services to South Louisiana. It is extremely important that we make the best possible use of every dollar and pound of food that is entrusted to the mission of Second Harvest Food Bank.

Second Harvest Ranks Highest in Financial and Food-Safety Reviews

Expenses (including food value)

DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD

PROGRAM SERVICES

MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL

FUNDRAISING

Inside this Issue:

Financial Transparency ................ page 2

President’s Message ..................... page 3

Delgado Food Pantry .................. page 3

Harvest at Home ............................ page 4

Leaving a Legacy ............................ page 5

Crescent City Classic .................... page 6

Charity Navigator Rating–Second Harvest earns a score of 98.5 out of 100This review ranks charities and nonprofit organizations based upon financial accountability and transparency. We’re proud that year-to-year, our administrative and fundraising expenses are less than 5%.

Feeding America AuditSecond Harvest scored a rating of 100% compliance in all 25 areas reviewed by Feeding America, including the storage, preparation, and distribution of food; financial health of our organization; day-to-day planning and safety of our operation; and overall efficiency of how we use donated funds.

AIB International Food Safety Audit This intense food safety evaluation takes a hard look at the day-to-day handling of the food that passes through our warehouse and operation. Distributing 25 million pounds of food is no small task, and our warehouse crew passed this audit with flying colors.

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81%

14% ™

700 Edwards AvenueNew Orleans, LA 70123504.734.1322

www.no-hunger.org

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 1282

New Orleans, LA

“We had a lot of students applying for SNAP benefits and being denied, so we decided to find our own way to help our students.” -Gilda Ebanks, Pantry Manager

Hunger is a problem that can strike any segment of our community. At Delgado Community College a new on-campus food pantry is helping students and their families make ends meet.

Since October, Gilda Ebanks has run the pantry from a storage room that is overflowing with food made possible by Second Harvest supporters. “It’s in a quiet building, away from major traffic,” she told us. “We chose this spot so students can have a little privacy when they come to us.”

The idea for a college food pantry started with a single student walking through her door last year. “He was hungry, and our office at the time didn’t have anything to offer. And that stuck with me.”

“We had a lot of students applying for SNAP benefits and being denied, so we decided to find our own way to help our students.”

To date, the Delgado food pantry has served 271 students and their families.

“The very first month we opened, a student came in who was going through a tough time. Her father had been laid off, and her whole family was going without for a time. She had tears in her eyes because she couldn’t believe the school could provide them with food.”

Ebanks hopes to move to a larger room on campus

soon. While the pantry is housed on the City Park campus, students from every Delgado campus are encouraged to visit.

She also says sadly, hunger is a factor in many students’ decision to drop out.

“When it gets to the point that students are struggling to stay in school and provide for their households at the same time, many have to leave. Being able to feed themselves and their families becomes the priority. They juggle so many responsibilities, but at some point, you have to make a decision about what you need to do at that moment in your life.”

Like so many people who run local food pantries, Gilda’s service to others started with hardship of her own during Hurricane Katrina.

“When you’re in a difficult situation and don’t know if you can take care of your family, it makes you humble. And it opens up your heart a little bit more to say, I’ve been there, I’ve experienced that, and I want to do everything I can to make a difference in the life of someone else.”

She also offered her thanks to those who support her pantry and Second Harvest. “There’s no way we’d be able to do this without their assistance. They have such a variety of nonperishable products that students need. We just would have to close our doors without Second Harvest.”

Help Today. www.no-hunger.org

More Ways to Help

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Local College Students Are Facing Hunger

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New Orleans In New Orleans, the seventh annual Harvest at Home initiative will be celebrated throughout the month of April in supporters’ homes across the city. A special patron dinner will be held on Wednesday, April 13 at the home of Mary and Bill Hines, featuring Chef Frank Brigtsen and past Harvest at Home chefs. Special thanks to Iberia Bank for their support of Harvest at Home. For more information on Harvest at Home in New Orleans, contact Kathryn Gsell at 504.729.2820 or kgsell@secondharvest.org.

Lafayette Lafayette will be celebrating its third annual Harvest at Home on Wednesday, April 6, at the home of Michael and Dana Topham, featuring Chef Manny Augello. For more information on Harvest at Home in Lafayette, contact Mary-Kay Rath at 337.408.2467 or mkrath@secondharvest.org.

Harvest at Home, one of Second Harvest Food Bank’s signature fundraising events, will be held in April in Lafayette and New Orleans. This special event will invite patrons to share a meal and have a conversation about the issue of hunger in their communities. In addition, patrons will receive a “lagniappe” bag that will include recipes from event chefs, material about hunger in our communities, and sponsor gifts.

Harvest at Home

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President’s Message:Our 2015 AccomplishmentsAlthough the fight against hunger in South Louisiana often seems like an unwinnable battle, I am proud and grateful for the accomplishments of our staff, volunteers, partners and supporters over the last year. First-time visitors to our warehouses and facilities are often stunned by the size and scale of our operation that reaches 210,000 people in 23 South Louisiana parishes. It takes the work and commitment of the whole community to keep Second Harvest running as efficiently and productively as possible.

In 2015, we dramatically expanded our initiatives that directly provide food to children, such as our backpack program, in-school pantries, summer feeding sites and after-school Kids’ Cafes, particularly in our more rural, harder to serve, parishes. When a child ran up to me at one of our local mobile pantries and hugged my leg to say “Thank You,” I was again filled with gratitude for the privilege of doing this work. In the coming year we will continue to find ways to work collaboratively to give our children the best chance of flourishing.

Over the last 12 months, we’ve also provided food to more local seniors than ever. While it’s a tremendous feeling to provide a hot meal to a retired person on a limited budget, at the same time it is heartbreaking that so many people who raised families and worked all their lives now often have to make critical choices between paying for medicine or buying food. It is unconscionable to see this happening today in a country with such an abundance of healthy food.

In addition to providing more than 24 million meals to hungry South Louisiana residents over the last year, your support makes it possible for us to offer programs that will help end hunger for children, families and seniors permanently. We commit to you that we will be the best stewards we can be of both your donations and your trust into 2016 and beyond.

Sincerely,

Natalie Jayroe, President and CEO

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Tomorrow’s Harvest: Help Fight Hunger For Years to ComeLeaving a legacy helps ensure that Second Harvest can continue to lead the fight against hunger in South Louisiana and provide service to the hungry children, families and seniors who need it most.

You can make a lasting impact by naming Second Harvest as a beneficiary of a will, trust, life insurance policy, or retirement or savings account. If you have already included Second Harvest in your estate plans, please let us know so we can thank you and include you in our legacy society, Tomorrow’s Harvest.

For more information, please contact Heather Sweeney at (504) 729-2839 or hsweeney@secondharvest.org.

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