From the desk of Jayne Wright-Velez, Executive Director
The Food Bank of Central Louisiana
November 2026 / Issue 201
$25,000 Matching Challenge Through December 31
The Harvest Fund has committed to match all gifts to the Food Bank of Central Louisiana, up to $25,000, to help us in our fight against hunger. Donate from now until year-end to double your impact!
Donate online at or mail a check to the Food Bank of Central Louisiana at 3223 Baldwin Ave., Alexandria, LA 71301.
The Boy Scouts Louisiana Purchase Council’s Scouting for Food Drive
Scouts throughout Central and Northeast Louisiana will collect food through their annual food drive to be provided to food-insecure citizens of our region. Food bags will be delivered to residences on Saturday, November 7. Individuals are asked to fill the bags with canned goods only and place them on their front porches or entryways by 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, November 14 for pick up.
14,968 Fewer Neighbors in Central Louisiana Receiving SNAP
According to the Louisiana Department of Health, from July 2025 to June 2026, SNAP participation in our food bank’s service area declined by 21.1%, from 70,814 to 55,846. That includes more than 7,000 children who no longer receive SNAP benefits. Program cuts and stricter requirements to receive benefits have eliminated thousands from the rolls, while wages are stagnant and food costs continue to rise. SNAP is our most effective tool in reducing food insecurity and hunger. Fewer neighbors receiving SNAP means more people visiting the food bank and our community partner programs, straining already scarce resources. Donations are critical to ensuring we can continue to meet the need. Please consider a gift today.
Help Families this Holiday Season
Thanksgiving should be a time to enjoy warm meals, a time for families to gather around the table. However, for millions of families, the holiday season will bring added pressure as grocery prices remain high. A virtual food drive can offer a powerful way to help – no matter where you are or how much time you have during the holidays. You can start your own virtual food drive on our website at www.fbcenla.org/virtual-food-drive and ensure nourishing meals stay within reach this Thanksgiving. Every dollar raised goes directly to providing meals to fill families’ tables in Central Louisiana.
Help the Food Bank While You Shop Online at Walmart
Walmart Spark Good is a community giving platform that connects Walmart and Sam’s Club customers to local nonprofits. Visit https://www.walmart.com/sparkgood, search for the Food Bank of Central Louisiana, and set us as your charity. The next time you shop at Walmart online, you can round up your total at checkout or donate products from our registry.
The Christmas Cheer Food Drive is Underway!
The Food Bank of Central Louisiana, KALB, and the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe invite schools in Avoyelles, Grant, Natchitoches, Rapides and Vernon Parishes to participate in the Christmas Cheer Food Drive by collecting food donations for the Food Bank and our partner agencies. Students are asked to bring shelf-stable food items to their school. December 7-11 will be the food pick-up dates for this year’s food drive. The elementary school, junior high and high school in each parish that collects the most food will receive a cash award from the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe.
Latter-Day Saints Fight Hunger at the Food Bank
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated 40,000 pounds of food to the Food Bank of Central Louisiana. The delivery was part of a national collaboration kicked off in November 2025, in which 250 truckloads of food would be donated to communities in all 50 states. Through America250’s America Gives initiative and the Church’s JustServe platform, volunteers, local leaders, and community organizations are coming together to put service into action. We are grateful for LDS’s support of our mission to alleviate hunger in Central Louisiana!
Giving Tuesday is December 1
Giving Tuesday is a movement that unleashes the power of Radical Generosity around the world, reimagining a world built on shared humanity. Give your time, skills, care or resources. Every act of generosity counts, and everyone has something to give. Join the nationwide movement sparking acts of kindness, community and care.
