First Friday Memo - November 2024
From the desk of Jayne Wright-Velez, Executive Director
November 2024 / Issue 177
Double your Donation Now through December
The Food Bank has received a challenge grant from the Harvest Fund to help us in our fight against hunger. From now until year-end, your donation will be matched so that every dollar you donate will be doubled. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to make a gift, you can do it this Holiday season for twice the impact. Even Giving Tuesday gifts will be doubled!
Donate online: www.fbcenla.org/?form=donate
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 2. 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 9 for pick up.
Increase Your Holiday Season Impact by Hosting a Virtual Food Drive
A virtual food drive is a fundraiser that happens 100% online, so you don't need to lug cans to a collection box. Instead, you set up an online fundraising page with the Food Bank and encourage your network of family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors to contribute. All of the money you raise will allow the Food Bank to purchase additional food to help feed those facing hunger. Visit fbcenla.org/virtual-food-drive to get started today.
TJX Company Stores Supports Local Hunger Relief Efforts
Help local food insecure families when you donate at the register at Marshalls in Alexandria from Nov. 1-3. 100% of proceeds will go to the Food Bank of Central Louisiana.
Join the GivingTuesday Movement on December 3
GivingTuesday is a movement that unleashes the power of Radical Generosity around the world, reimagining a world built on shared humanity. Radical Generosity is the concept that the suffering of others should be as intolerable to us as our own suffering. The global network collaborates year-round to inspire generosity, with a common mission to build a world where generosity is part of everyday life. Every act of generosity counts, and everyone has something to give. Learn more at givingtuesday.org.
The Christmas Cheer Food Drive is underway!
Schools in Avoyelles, Grant, Natchitoches, Rapides and Vernon Parishes are collecting food donations for the Food Bank from now until the first week of December. Until the designated weigh-day for each parish, students are asked to bring in non-perishable items and canned goods to their school. All of the food will be distributed in the parish where it was collected.
Rapides Parish Fairgoers Participated in Annual Food Drive
The Rapides Parish Fair gave armband discounts for the Mighty Thomas Carnival to anyone who brought canned goods to donate to the Food Bank at admission. Thanks to all who participated!
Do your Holiday Shopping on ShopRaise and Support Your Favorite Charity
ShopRaise is an app that works with partner retailers to donate a percent of sales to charity. As a consumer, you can shop online at hundreds of retailers, who in turn donate up to 10% of each transaction to your charity of choice. Just download the ShopRaise app, set your Cause to The Food Bank of Central Louisiana, and shop.
Children Face Hunger on Their Holiday Breaks
Many kids are giddy to be out of school for holiday breaks. But that may not be the case for the 30 million children in the US who participate in the National School Lunch Program. Not going to school and taking a holiday break means some children won’t get enough food. But students are usually out for a week at Thanksgiving and two weeks around Christmas. That’s when parents feel the financial pinch more because they need to provide extra food for their children. That’s not even considering the added expenses like Thanksgiving dinner – special holiday meals are completely out of reach for those who are struggling. But together, we can make a difference for food-insecure children and families across Cenla. Your gift puts food on tables, during the Holidays and beyond.
