BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – A new study from Feeding America reported that Louisiana children and seniors are some of the highest at-risk for food insecurity in the country.
According to the study, one in five children in Louisiana experienced food insecurity in 2021. 52,200 people in East Baton Rouge Parish struggled to put meals on their tables.
The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank launched a new website that gives users a map where they can enter their zip code to find food pantries and meal giveaways near them.
“Our new website was designed on the user experience,” said GBR Food Bank Senior Communications Coordinator Kristen Bellatti. “Whether a website visitor is looking for ways to access food, a volunteer is looking for ways to volunteer, or if a donor is visiting to donate funds, the website visitor can choose their experience when visiting our new website.”
The website was launched at the end of August, and Bellatti said more than 9,500 people have used it.
Bellatti said people can help close the meal gap by supporting their local food bank by volunteering, hosting a food drive or donating funds.
“With our buying power, every $1 can help provide up to three meals,” she said.
Bellatti said the website has information about how a food bank operates, logistics, what they do with donated food, and how they work with more than 110 partnered agencies throughout its 11-parish service area.
Find food pantries near you through the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank here.
