Fighting Hunger in Louisiana

From 2001 through 2009, the number of people age 50 and above struggling with hunger or lacking sufficient nutrition and food resources rose by almost 80 percent. Today, nearly 9 million older Americans are at risk of hunger. Unless we act, that number will only increase as the aging population grows.

Louisiana is among the top ten states with the greatest risk of hunger for those who are 60 and older.

We can do something about it.

Since 2011, AARP and AARP Foundation have been joining forces on Drive to End Hunger , a nationwide, multifaceted campaign.  The chief priorities of Drive to End Hunger are to raise awareness and funds to fight hunger among adults 50+, and to provide short- and long-term solutions to the problem of older adult hunger. To date, we have provided 16 million meals for seniors and raised $17.7.

This May we have another unique opportunity to take action.

Louisianans can help fight hunger when filing their 2012 state income tax returns by including a contribution to the Louisiana Food Bank Association (LFBA) on line 41 on the state income tax form.

Contributions to the LFBA will support the efforts of Louisiana’s five food banks to provide emergency food assistance for nearly 610,000 people statewide, including 245,000 children, who struggle with hunger.

“The face of hunger is predominantly elderly and children. 70% of the members of families that rely on food banks have either elderly or children in their households. Fifty percent are either on social security or disabled,” said Cindy Greenstein, Executive Director of the Louisiana Food Bank Association. “Even with decreasing unemployment, new jobs being created are less likely to pay a living wage and the demand on food banks remain high. The many challenges the state has faced has caused greater competition for the private and public food and fund resources that food banks depend on,” added Greenstein.

LFBA’s five regional food banks include: Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Food Bank of Central Louisiana, Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana, Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, and Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana.

In 2012, Louisiana’s food banks distributed over 50 million pounds of food, the equivalent of approximately 40 million meals, through more than 400 member agencies including churches, food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and other local nonprofits.

Support from this effort will allow Louisiana’s food banks to maximize each dollar donated to feed Louisiana’s hungry through relationships with Feeding America, the food industry, and other community partners.

For more information, visit www.lafba.org or call 225.308.2038.