First Friday Memo - May 2026
From the desk of Jayne Wright-Velez, Executive Director
The Food Bank of Central Louisiana
May 2026 / Issue 195
Join Feeding Louisiana for Anti-Hunger Day at the State Capitol
On Tuesday, May 19, Feeding Louisiana and the Louisiana Anti-Hunger Coalition will bring together food bank leaders, partners, and advocates to educate legislators about hunger in Louisiana, share what’s working in communities, and advance practical policy solutions that reduce food insecurity and improve health. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with legislators and share priority issues. This year, Feeding Louisiana is offering optional Hunger-Free Advocate training to help you sharpen your advocacy skills. Information and registration: https://www.lahungercoalition.org/day-at-the-capitol-2026
You can also help the food banks by encouraging our state legislators to support Feeding Louisiana’s $5,000,000 state appropriation request for Louisiana’s five regional food banks to purchase fresh produce and protein from Louisiana farmers, ranchers and food businesses for distribution to neighbors facing hunger. Find your legislators here: https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/findmylegislators.aspx.
Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive May 9
Save the date for the 2025 Stamp Out Hunger food drive on Saturday, May 9th!
Each year, letter carriers across the country head out on their routes on the second Saturday in May to collect donations of non-perishable food items to benefit local food pantries. Since launching in 1993, the National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive has grown into the nation’s largest one-day food drive, helping to fill the shelves of food banks in cities and towns throughout the United States. Simply leave your donation of non-perishable food in a bag near your mailbox on May 9th, and your letter carrier will do the rest. Let’s make a difference in the fight against hunger!
New SNAP Requirements Impact Older Adults in Louisiana
As of this month, specific, final data on the exact number of people who lost SNAP benefits in Louisiana due to the February 1, 2026, federal work requirement expansion is not yet fully tabulated. Projections suggested thousands of older adults, veterans, and people experiencing homelessness in Louisiana were at risk due to expanded work rules for ages 55–64. Earlier in 2025, officials expressed concern that roughly 36,000 people in Louisiana fell into these new, stricter categories. More than 756,000 people in Louisiana rely on SNAP, with roughly 53% being children or elderly.
Brookshire Grocery Company Believes in Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Brookshire donated $500,000 to local food banks across Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma in late 2025. The food banks were located in areas served by Brookshire's, Super 1 Foods, and Spring Market stores to help with rising food insecurity. The Food Bank of Central Louisiana received $30,000 in gift cards that allowed us to purchase two months’ worth of meals for our BackPack Program. We are grateful for the support from Brookshire.
The P&G Fund Awards a Grant to the Food Bank of Central Louisiana
From the early origins of the company, P&G’s founders made giving back a priority. P&G people live and work in over 70 countries. They're focused on making a positive impact around the globe through partnerships with organizations working every day to help communities grow and thrive. This $40,000 Community Grant will support the Food Bank’s every-day food distribution operations. We are so grateful to P&G for being such a good neighbor and partner to the food bank and the people we serve.
Target Circle Community Votes for the Food Bank of Central Louisiana
Thanks to everyone who voted for the Food Bank of Central Louisiana in the Target Circle Giving Program. We received $9,812 to help us further our mission to alleviate hunger in Central Louisiana, with help from your generous votes. This donation came from a larger pool of funds donated by Target to nonprofits tied to the local community. Again, to everyone who participated, spread the word, and shared the love, thank you!
Congratulations to Robert Brister, Champion of Service!
Volunteer Louisiana’s annual Champions of Service Awards recognizes outstanding volunteers who go above and beyond through a competitive award process. Award recipients are selected from seven geographic regions across the state, along with an outstanding AmeriCorps member and volunteer group. Robert Brister, a Food Bank of Central Louisiana volunteer, was selected to receive the Central Region Champions of Service Award! Robert was recognized by Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser at a luncheon event last month. We were excited that Robert was recognized for his service to this community.
More Than One Third of Single Moms Face Hunger This Mother’s Day
Overall, 13.7% of all U.S. households are food-insecure at some point. Approximately 18.4% of all households with children in the U.S. experience food insecurity, but in single-mother households the rate nearly doubles, with studies indicating that 36% of these families experience food insecurity in the United States. As we celebrate Mother’s Day, let’s advocate for policies and solutions that ensure every mother has access to the nourishment for themselves and their families.
