With school out and federal food support dwindling, families across St. Tammany Parish are leaning harder than ever on local food banks. For many people, it’s the only safety net they have left.“Everybody is struggling right now. Times is hard,” said Lesley Burges, a mother of seven who relies on food distributions to stretch through the summer.To help meet the growing need, Northshore Food Bank is teaming up with Good Samaritan Ministry at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church in Slidell to tackle food insecurity on the east side of the parish. It’s an area where leaders say the need is greatest.“St. Tammany Parish right now faces over 14% food insecurity,” said Yvette Roussel, CEO of Northshore Food Bank. “About 1 in 7 people are hungry.”The problem gets worse when schools close for the summer. Many children rely on free breakfast and lunch during the school year — and without them, families like Lesley’s are left scrambling.“We get stamps, but that don’t last the whole summer,” Burges said. “Northshore Food Bank come in handy really for me and my seven.”And she’s far from alone. Organizers say they’ve never seen this much need. Donations are also taking a hit, dropping by 30% this summer compared to last year.“We are actually experiencing some of that trickle-down from the reduction in federal government support to food banks,” Roussel added.Still, local organizations are stepping in to fill the gap. Companies like Chevron are donating time and money to help deliver summer staples.“We show up through volunteers and our partnership with the Northshore Food Bank to make sure that the summer staples are covered, like today and throughout the rest of the year,” said Caitlyn Hunter, a community partner with Chevron.The help is especially meaningful for seniors like Sandra, who said she used to eat only once a day before finding the food bank.“No child should be hungry in our country. No senior should be eating once a day. I did for many a long time before I found this place,” Sandra Anderson said.Burges offered a message for anyone hesitant to ask for help:“So if anybody out there shy or ashamed, baby don’t be ashamed. Because we all, we all need. We all have needs.”If you would like volunteer, sign up to help, or register for a distribution box and resources, click here.
With school out and federal food support dwindling, families across St. Tammany Parish are leaning harder than ever on local food banks. For many people, it’s the only safety net they have left.
“Everybody is struggling right now. Times is hard,” said Lesley Burges, a mother of seven who relies on food distributions to stretch through the summer.
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To help meet the growing need, Northshore Food Bank is teaming up with Good Samaritan Ministry at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church in Slidell to tackle food insecurity on the east side of the parish. It’s an area where leaders say the need is greatest.
“St. Tammany Parish right now faces over 14% food insecurity,” said Yvette Roussel, CEO of Northshore Food Bank. “About 1 in 7 people are hungry.”
The problem gets worse when schools close for the summer. Many children rely on free breakfast and lunch during the school year — and without them, families like Lesley’s are left scrambling.
“We get stamps, but that don’t last the whole summer,” Burges said. “Northshore Food Bank come in handy really for me and my seven.”
And she’s far from alone. Organizers say they’ve never seen this much need. Donations are also taking a hit, dropping by 30% this summer compared to last year.
“We are actually experiencing some of that trickle-down from the reduction in federal government support to food banks,” Roussel added.
Still, local organizations are stepping in to fill the gap. Companies like Chevron are donating time and money to help deliver summer staples.
“We show up through volunteers and our partnership with the Northshore Food Bank to make sure that the summer staples are covered, like today and throughout the rest of the year,” said Caitlyn Hunter, a community partner with Chevron.
The help is especially meaningful for seniors like Sandra, who said she used to eat only once a day before finding the food bank.
“No child should be hungry in our country. No senior should be eating once a day. I did for many a long time before I found this place,” Sandra Anderson said.
Burges offered a message for anyone hesitant to ask for help:
“So if anybody out there shy or ashamed, baby don’t be ashamed. Because we all, we all need. We all have needs.”
If you would like volunteer, sign up to help, or register for a distribution box and resources, click here.
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