The Season of Giving

Nonprofits offer residents ways to serve the most hungry in the parish

According to an analysis by Feeding America, nearly 20 percent of St. Charles Parish’s children suffer from food insecurity. As residents prepare to indulge in holiday meals, now may be the best time to get to know those who are helping residents who are going hungry.

One such organization is Second Harvest. Spokesperson Terri Kaupp said that, in the past year, their organization distributed over 315,000 pounds of food to residents of St. Charles Parish, or roughly 250,000 meals. The group operates in over 22 parishes throughout Louisiana through 300 partner agencies. In St. Charles Parish, these food distribution partners include Antioch Baptist Church in Des Allemands, St. Charles Department of Community Service in New Sarpy, and St. John the Baptist Church in Paradis.

The group recently entered into a partnership with St. Charles Methodist Church in Destrehan, which began distributing food last February.

Second Harvest said it tries to help over 470 children in schools throughout St. Charles Parish daily, including Luling, St. Rose, and Des Allemands elementaries. Combined, those three schools account for roughly 265 members of their Backpack Program, a partnership with United Way of St. Charles whose goal is to send children home with the food they need to stay focused ad be successful in school.

“The holidays are particularly busy,” said Barbara Callender of St. Charles Social Concerns, “but we give food year-round.”

The Social Concern works particularly with people who fall just short of meeting their food needs, particularly those who collect food stamps. Often time, paperwork errors can leave people without benefits for a period of time. Even when some families collect benefits, Callender said, it may not be enough.

“We require people to qualify,” she said, “but no one is denied food.”

For both groups, perishable items are a challenge. Kaupp said that one way they’ve managed to get perishable, such as meat, into waiting hands is through a “mobile” food bank, a refrigerated truck that makes monthly deliveries.

“Food banking has definitely changed,” said Terry Kaupp, spokesperson for Second Harvest.

The Social Concern, meanwhile works almost exclusively with non-perishable items. The only exception is a program that provides frozen pizzas.

Both organizations are always looking for donations and volunteers. Donations to St. Charles Social Concerns can be made by dropping off non-perishable good or money donation at the 1601 Paul Maillard Road in Luling. The easiest way for residents to give money to Second Harvest is to add the donation while checking out at Winn Dixie in Luling through the “Turkey and a $20” program. Winn Dixie and Rouses’ supermarkets partner with Second Harvest to add an amount to customers’ grocery bill that is then put into an account Second Harvest can use to buy discounted food at the stores.Second Harvest also needs volunteers at its food repacking centers. Kaupp said residents can go to www.no-hunger.org and click on “volunteer” at the top. Donations can also be made at this website. Volunteers at the re-packing sites need to be at least 9 years old.