First Friday Memo - July 2026

From the desk of Jayne Wright-Velez, Executive Director

The Food Bank of Central Louisiana‍ ‍

July 2026 / Issue 197

Tell Congress: Support families by delaying the SNAP cost shift to states

Every day, families across our communities work hard to put food on the table, care for loved ones and build stable futures. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one food assistance program that helps families weather difficult times while supporting local economies, farmers and businesses. 

Because of H.R. 1, a new law passed by Congress and enacted last summer, Louisiana is facing significantly higher costs to operate SNAP and continue providing food assistance to families across the state. Without additional time to prepare, state lawmakers in Louisiana could be forced into difficult tradeoffs – including reducing SNAP access, cutting other

essential community services or raising taxes on residents – beginning this October. A two-year delay in the SNAP cost shift for all states would give Louisiana the stability needed to make thoughtful adjustments while protecting continued access to food assistance for families, seniors, veterans and children. Now is the time to stand together and protect this critical support for families facing hunger. Contact your representatives today to encourage Congress to support a two-year delay in the SNAP cost shift and help families afford groceries.

FFA State Convention Spends Day of Service at the Food Bank

As part of the 97th Louisiana FFA State Convention and Expo, the Food Bank welcomed FFA members who helped make food packages, packed summer meals for kids and worked in the garden. Sixty-three FFA members volunteered on June 3. We are so thankful for all the FFA member volunteers who participated in the State Convention Day of Service at the Food Bank.

No Kid Hungry Keeps Children Fed This Summer

No Kid Hungry is dedicated to ending child hunger by focusing efforts in communities where the need is greatest and the opportunity for impact is highest - working to break the cycle of poverty and address the barriers that contribute to child food insecurity. This $5,200 grant is helping the Food Bank expand the reach of non-congregate meal programs this summer, ensuring that children have access to meals while school is out.

Rotary Club of Alexandria Supports Child Nutrition

The 2025-2026 Rotary International theme is “Unite for Good.” The Food Bank of Central Louisiana was selected to receive a Rotary Grant of $2,000 in support of the BackPack Program. This program “Unites for Good” by strengthening the broader community by partnering with local schools, volunteers, and donors to build a network of support around vulnerable children. These collaborations foster a shared commitment to ensuring that no child goes hungry, while encouraging community engagement and service.

Thanks to All who Participated in the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

Last month, the National Association of Letter Carriers held its annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive all across the nation. Thank you to everyone who left a bag of food out to be collected by your letter carrier on May 9. Locally, the drive provided 12,244 pounds of food donated to the Food Bank of Central Louisiana. We are so grateful for our continued partnership with the Alexandria/Pineville/Marksville 932 National Association of Letter Carriers.  Thanks to AmeriHealth Caritas for sponsoring this year’s Stamp Out Hunger bags!

The Food Bank Joins Albertsons to Nourish the American Dream

This week, the Food Bank of Central Louisiana is uniting with nonprofits nationwide in Nourish the American Dream, a movement launched by Albertsons's Nourishing Neighbors initiative around a shared mission: to nourish every child's potential. Through July 7, every dollar we raise supports our mission and contributes to Nourish the American Dream's collective $5 million goal to help more children access the food they need to grow and thrive. Because the American Dream starts with a full plate. Visit nourishtheamericandream.org.

Popeyes Foundation Feeds Families with a Grant of $7,910

The Popeyes Foundation is dedicated to strengthening communities with food and support in times of need. In 2023, Popeyes launched SERVING WITH LOVE®, their signature initiative focused on supporting Popeyes® Team Members and local communities. For local communities, support shows up through the Food Love Grants Program, which focuses on providing national and local nonprofits funds to provide food to those in need. The Food Bank of Central Louisiana is proud to partner with Popeyes Foundations to feed families in Cenla.

Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday by Turning Ideals into Action

As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, we have an opportunity to celebrate not only our history, but also our commitment to the ideals of freedom, opportunity, and dignity for all. Honoring this milestone means recognizing that millions of Americans still struggle to afford enough food for themselves and their families. By working to reduce hunger and strengthen access to nutrition, we can help ensure that the promise of our nation is reflected in the everyday lives of people across the country, making the 250th anniversary a celebration of both our progress and our shared responsibility to one another.

Introducing the Food Bank’s Board of Directors for Fiscal Year 2026-2027

Our Board of Directors members are the stewards of our organization, providing foresight, oversight, and insight as they guide our mission to alleviate hunger in Central Louisiana. 

Joe Gardner, Chair

Tim Holloway, Vice Chair

Mandy Scoggin, Treasurer

Christina Hathorn, Secretary

Heather Brooks

Jeremy Burford

Lorene Christie

Laurie Draper

Sam Kennedy

LB Matthews

Grant Rabalais

George Rhoads

Sara Whittington

Mike Yoist

We would also like recognize the board members who completed their terms of service for their commitment to our organization and mission – Gary Brown, Brian Couvillon, Jill Kelone, Marie Simpson, Todd St.Romain, and Robert Willett.