Our Impact

Our Work in Louisiana

THE POWER OF PROMISES KEPT: SHARE OUR STRENGTH'S ONGOING LOCAL PRESENCE AND FREQUENT DELEGATIONS OF CITIZEN LEADERS HELPS OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS REALIZE RESULTS.

louisiana schoolHurricanes Katrina and Rita brought the world to its feet on behalf of a region long on its knees. Even before these apocalyptic storms, Louisiana and its Gulf Coast neighbors struggled with poverty, hunger and their societal consequences. Share Our Strength first responded to that struggle in 1988. We have been there ever since, providing more than $2 million in grants to support 50 organizations that are working to end childhood hunger and bring self-sufficiency to the region’s families.

Post-Katrina Presence and Progress

market placeSince Hurricane Katrina, Share Our Strength has increased our Gulf Coast presence. Each year we bring delegations of leaders that represent public and private organizations, corporations, media and individuals to New Orleans. Together we witness the progress, take stock of the recovery that’s underway and rebuilding that’s left to do, and find solutions.

Most importantly, we opened a Share Our Strength office in New Orleans. Led by a dynamic Share Our Strength veteran, this office allows us to continue our work and make good on our long-term commitment to the region. It keeps us closer to the people we’re serving and the frontline organizations we’re supporting.

We will stay until we’re no longer needed, helping to rebuild while we work to end childhood hunger. Our work in the region supports these and other successful organizations:

  • St. Bernard Parish Public Schools. This school system now consists of four school buildings in an area that had 14 before Hurricane Katrina. Eleven weeks after the storm, the system re-opened to serve 334 students in modular classrooms and trailers. Today, the school welcomes more than 3,000 eager students from preschool through 12th grade and continues working hard to rebuild. Learn more ».

  • Samuel Green and Martin Luther King Jr. Charter Schools are full of engaged kids. Samuel Green features an Edible Schoolyard garden, outdoor classroom, a playground and a new football field. MLK in the Lower 9th Ward has 650 kids enrolled, despite its desolate landscape. Learn more about Samuel Green » and MLK Charter Schools ».

  • Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana and Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank both distribute food in partnership with agencies that serve the short-term needs of individuals. Learn more about Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank » and Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana ».

  • Kingsley House offers Preschool and Early Head Start programs, teen and family summer programs, health insurance, food stamp assistance and other programs that educate children, strengthen families and build communities. Learn more ».

  • Way Maker Ministries is New Orleans’ only state-licensed after-school feeding program. It helps provide after-school snacks and summer meals to 3,000 kids who are not otherwise likely to get nutritious food when school is not in session.

  • Lower 9th Ward Health Clinic continues to serve the needs of the community east of the Industrial Canal. More medical clinics are opening where they are most needed, even ‘though the city has only half the doctors and nurses it had before the storm.

  • marketumbrella.org initiates and promotes local economics. They are actively promoting Gulf Coast seafood and produce, and helping to restore national distribution of those products. Learn more ».

  • Seedco Financial Services of Louisiana has opened the Southeast Louisiana Fisheries Assistance Center to support commercial fishermen in affected areas with financial aid, technical assistance and advice. Learn more ».

  • Café Reconcile hosts the St. Regis Hospitality Program in New Orleans. Local residents, including Share Our Strength chefs, train at-risk youth in the skills they will need to succeed in the New Orleans hospitality industry. Learn more ».

  • Family Road of Greater Baton Rouge provides comprehensive social services for more than 20,000 families. Learn more ».

  • Bread for the World New Orleans works to end hunger and poverty through education and legislative advocacy. Learn more ».

Ongoing Plans

katrina hitThe need in the Gulf Coast is far greater than any one organization can address. This is why we’re working with our local and national networks to assess anti-hunger efforts within each state in the region and identify specific needs. We’re expanding our network of supporters in the region, building a calendar of local events (including Taste of the Nation » and Great American Dine Out ») to raise funds and awareness, and serving on committees and boards for organizations and initiatives.

More specifically, we are working to:

  • Convene a statewide coalition of anti-hunger and advocacy organizations to design a strategy to end childhood hunger in Louisiana within the context of the state’s recovery.
  • Support the strategy to end childhood hunger in Louisiana with an achievable plan to implement and replicate it.
  • Continue directing outside resources into the region through our Hinges of Hope tours.
  • Bring Operation Frontline » to New Orleans.
  • Continue making grants across the region to help our local partners increase their capacity and bring their most successful solutions to scale.

Share Our Strength founder Billy Shore sums up our work in the Gulf Coast this way: “Wisdom dictates going beyond charitable emergency relief to support long-term investments in policies and programs that help the poorest become self sufficient. We may not have been first responders, but we’ve got a lock on second, third and fourth because we are there to stay.”

Read more of Billy Shore’s letters » about Louisiana:

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