Use Your Social Media Powers For Good! Sign up to be a member of the Food Bank’s Social Media Ambassadors Program.

Social Media Ambassadors are an online community of Food Bank supporters who mix Food Bank messages into their post. In turn, your name and profile will be featured on our Social Media Ambassador Roster page. Any blog posts, tweets, videos and photos will be incorporated into the Food Bank’s social media and promotional materials.

The Social Media Ambassadors are critical to helping us expand our awareness of hunger and provide the vital relief that over 75,000 children, families, seniors need every day of the year. Show the world that you're a Hunger Hero! Join the Social Media Ambassadors Program today!
 
You can submit your registration request here: https://www.foodbanknla.org/communication.html

How does it work?

The Food Bank will provide an online resource center and monthly newswire email that contains information about our current activities, campaigns and news. Logos, brochures & important details will be outlined. SMA members can pick and choose what they’d like to help promote using their online communities: blogs, websites, Twitter, Linkedin or Facebook.

How often do you mention the Food Bank?

We ask SMA members to follow @foodbankofnwla on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and post about the Food Bank at least once per month (at least 12 times per year). A blog post, a few tweets, or Facebook mentions would be great. Videos and photos work well, too - and engaging your workplace, church or neighborhood is most valuable for us!

How do you qualify?

Social Media Ambassadors for the Food Bank must have at least online network that is public (not set to private) so that shared Food Bank content can be seen by everyone. This can be: a blog, YouTube page, Twitter account, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook page. Ambassadors should reside in our seven parish service area and believe in our mission. Each application is reviewed on a case by case basis.
 
Join today!

I am a Navy veteran. I was honorably discharged after serving my country for four years on several detachments and deployments. I loved my time in the Navy. Sure, it was hard work but I got to see the world and I was always taken care of. It wasn't until after I got out that my struggles really began.

I'm a single mom to two beautiful girls – Hailey is four and Hannah is six. My husband and I split up a few years ago and unfortunately I don't receive any support. I want to work hard and earn a living, but right now my daughters' school schedule doesn't allow it. Hailey is too young to attend school all day, and I can't afford the daycare I'd need to work full time. I do everything I can to make the most of the few hours she is in school – I clean homes, landscape lawns; anything to make a little money to keep the shelves stocked. But as you can imagine, it's not enough. There have been times when I didn't eat so my daughters could.

As a veteran, it's really tough to ask for help. The Navy taught me to be independent. I was ashamed to admit that I couldn't make it on my own. My daughters were the only reason I ended up asking for assistance. Their needs motivated me to put my pride aside and visit a nearby food pantry – served by the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana.  By giving us food, the pantry restored a sense of normalcy to our lives and gave us the strength and inspiration we needed to keep reaching for a better day.

I now know that a better day will be here soon. When Hailey is old enough to attend full-time kindergarten, I can work enough hours to make ends meet. I'm not sure I'd be as hopeful about the future without the Food Bank’s support. To me, the people there are angels, and I can't thank them enough for everything they've done.

To read more of the fall 2017 newsletter, click here. 

I can’t say it enough — THANK YOU! I’ve always believed that there is a tremendous amount of compassion and philanthropy in Northwest Louisiana, and the generosity during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey has proven this several times over.
 
Together, we hit the ground running by providing over $275,000 in food, water, household items, cleaning supplies and pet food to our struggling neighbors in Southeast Texas.  And we continue our work in Northwest Louisiana to help the 35,000 individuals that turn to the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana each month. 
 
Because friends like you care about the well-being of our community and the victims of nature’s disasters, the Food Bank is on task to distribute nearly 1,000,000 pounds of food, enough food for 765,000 meals each month.
 
Thank you for your generous the support of our community.  Together we have continued to provide food to 150 non-profit organizations, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, church pantries, and schools.   With even more people in our community needing our assistance, we hope we can count on your continued support.  
 
With gratitude,
Martha

To read the rest of the fall 2017 newsletter, click here. 

Once again, the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana’s sound fiscal management practices, financial health, accountability and transparency have earned the highest rating from two leading charity evaluators—Guide Star and Charity Navigator.  In recent publicized reports, the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana earned the highest 4 Star Rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator.  Only 16 rated charities in the state of Louisiana received the 4 Star Rating.  The Food Bank is the only non-profit organization in Northwest Louisiana to achieve this award. This is the fourth year in a row that the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana has earned this top four star distinction. 
 
Similarly, the Food Bank earned the highest rating of Platinum Level from Guide Star, world's largest source of information on nonprofit organizations.  The Food Bank is one of only nine organizations in the State to have the rating of Platinum level.
 
“It’s important our donors trust that we are using our funding wisely to accomplish the over-whelming task of trying to stabilize the lives of those facing hunger issues in northwest Louisiana,” said Martha Marak, Executive Director. “Our 4-star Charity Navigator rating demonstrates to our supporters that we take our fiduciary responsibilities very seriously.”

To read more of the fall 2017 newsletter, click here. 

After Hurricane Harvey made landfall and dropped more than 40 inches of rain, thousands of people in southeast Texas and Houston have been displaced.
 
One of the many services the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana provides is disaster aid during difficult times.  Disaster response has been a core part of our mission for 20 years.  The Food Bank has a history of supporting sister food banks many times in the past following disasters.

Whether a local flood, or when the rains flooded Baton Rouge in 2016, the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana responded with food and household items.
 
Responding to the disaster of Hurricane Harvey was no different.  Thanks to our local partners--Brookshire’s, Super 1, Bossier Sheriff’s Office, Ivan Smith Furniture, First Baptist Church School, Horseshoe Casino, Minden Chamber of Commerce, Specialist Health System, and Saia Transportation--we have already sent three 53 trucks filled with 66 pallets of water, 22 pallets of Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) and assorted foods, cleaning supplies, blankets and pet food valued at $208,800 to the Southeast Texas Food Bank in Beaumont.      

Click here to read the rest of our fall 2017 newsletter!

Host a bowl painting event to benefit the Food Bank’s Empty Bowl Event.  Bowls are only $20.00 each. Bowls, glazes, and supplies will be provided for your event. Contact Meg at 318.675.2400 ext. 111 or development@foodbanknla.org  to arrange your event at your location.

 Our goal is to have 400 hand painted ceramic bowls completed for our Empty Bowls Hunger Awareness and fund raising event in June 2018.  Guests at the Empty Bowls event choose a bowl as their “Thank You” and as a reminder of the empty bowls that need to be filled in our community.  

To read the rest of our fall 2017 newsletter, click here. 

Give a gift with lasting impact with a “Hope” honorarium holiday card.                                                               
Your honoree will receive a special custom made holiday card acknowledging your gift to the Food Bank in their honor. Your donation enables our Food Bank to provide food to community by supporting our programs. Your gift is tax deductible.

 How does it work?

1. Send us your contribution (Minimum $15 donation per card; price includes postage and handling). You may pay by check and/or cash, or by credit card.
2. Email, mail, or fax a list of those you would like to honor by December 15th and we will do all of the work for you.
3. The Holiday “Hope” card will be personalized with your name and/or your company's name. The “Hope” card will be mailed to the recipient in time for the holiday season.

Please be sure to send in your contribution and list by Friday, December 15th in order for us to have them mailed on time to your families and friends.
​
Please mail to: Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, 2307 Texas Avenue, Shreveport, LA  71103
 
You may fax lists to 318-675-2440.  Call us at 318-675-2400 ext.100 for more information.
 
Relax and enjoy the holiday season knowing your gifts will touch your family and friends in a very meaningful way--- by helping the food insecure families and children of Northwest Louisiana.
 
Click here to read the rest of our fall 2017 newsletter!

Despite receiving year-round food assistance, buying groceries in bulk, and even taking free classes on couponing, Zoe and her family of four children always seem to be running low on food. For this reason, Zoe depends on the school breakfast and lunch programs that help feed her three elementary aged children.

"When school is in session, I don't have to worry about my kids going hungry because I'm fortunate enough for my kids to eat breakfast and lunch at school," she said. But when summer comes around and school is out, Zoe finds herself struggling to provide enough food for her kids to eat. "Those months are hard," she said. "Especially when you have more than one child depending on you to put food in front of them, and you're not even sure if you'll have enough." 

With parents like Zoe in mind, the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana provides free meals to children enrolled in Summer Clubs and Programs like Boys & Girls Clubs, churches and libraries. Throughout the summer months, the Food Bank will provide more than 50,000 meals for children in need. 

"These are healthy, nutritious meals," said Marleah Walker, the Food Bank's Agency Relations and Program Director. "The meals follow U.S.D.A. guidelines and are made up of well-balanced, nutritious foods, including fruit and vegetables. This summer, Zoe found some peace of mind when her children visited a nearby church and were given meals that included fruit, vegetables, and milk. The children will be able to return to the church all summer long, and Zoe is relieved to know they are getting nutritious food to eat. 

"Fruit is so expensive," Zoe said. "But it's important for the kids to have it. As a parent, it feels good to know my family is eating healthy food."


Click here to read the rest of the summer 2017 Newsletter!

One in five children in Northwest Louisiana are food-insecure. That is why the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana is partnering with the Shreve Memorial Libraries to provide free healthy lunches to children as part of the Food Bank's Summer Food Service Program. The Summer Food Service Program provides meals to kids during the summer months when they are at higher risk of hunger.  

Lunch will be provided from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the following Shreve Memorial Library Branches:

• Atkins Branch, 3704 Greenwood Road
• David Rained Branch, 2855 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
• Hamilton/South Caddo Resource Center, 2111 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop
• Main Branch, 424 Texas Street
• Mooretown Branch, 4360 Hollywood Avenue
• Wallette Branch, 363 Hearne Avenue
• West Shreveport Branch, 4380 Pines Road

Meals will be provided free of charge by the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana Monday through Friday through July 31, 2017. 

Click here to read the rest of our summer 2017 Newsletter.