Alexandria, La. (10/2/2025) – The Food Bank of Central Louisiana held its annual Food for Thought Luncheon on yesterday at the Pentecostals of Alexandria Event Center, bringing community leaders, supporters, and volunteers together to address food insecurity across the region.
The event, sponsored by CLECO, featured remarks from Joe Gardner, Chair of the Food Bank, and an invocation from Pastor Andrew Cox of the Pentecostals of Alexandria. Attendees viewed several video presentations that highlighted the Food Bank’s impact, including stories from neighbors who benefit from local programs.
Executive Director Jayna Vilet outlined the past, present, and future goals of the Food Bank, followed by board member Tim Holloway who shared a personal message about the importance of continued support.
Impact Report: 1 in 5 Neighbors Face Food Insecurity
The FY24-25 Impact Report revealed that 1 in 5 Central Louisiana residents lives in a food-insecure household. Louisiana ranks fourth in the nation for overall food insecurity and third highest for seniors.
Key highlights included:
- 11.8 million pounds of food distributed in FY25.
- 27 monthly mobile food pantries serving rural communities.
- 124 partner agencies including pantries, shelters, and senior centers.
- 37,832 backpacks of food sent home with children during the school year.
- 66,272 senior food boxes distributed through the USDA Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
The Food Bank also emphasized programs like community gardens, SNAP assistance, and disaster response, which mobilize quickly during hurricanes or other emergencies.
Volunteer and Community Support
The report also highlighted 6,598 volunteer hours from 2,660 individual volunteers and 88 local groups over the past year. Volunteers remain a cornerstone of the Food Bank’s mission.
Community members were encouraged to contribute through monetary donations, food drives, and by spreading awareness. Every contribution, organizers noted, helps provide meals to neighbors in need and strengthens the fight against hunger in Central Louisiana.
A Call to Action
The Food for Thought Luncheon served as both a reflection on past successes and a call to action. With food insecurity continuing to impact families, seniors, and children, the Food Bank urged the public to remain engaged through donations, volunteerism, and advocacy.
For more information or to get involved, visit fbcenla.org.
UrbanCast / involvedinitall.com would like to extend a special thank you to Louisiana Cardiovascular & Thoracic Institute, Inc. for inviting us to be part of today’s luncheon.
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