Latest news with #JohnSillars
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Second Harvest Food Bank launches ‘Summer Food Service Program' in Greater New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Second Harvest Food Bank kicked off its Summer Food Service Program on Monday morning. The food bank, located on Edwards Avenue, aims to provide meals during the summer months that students are usually provided during the school year. Breakfasts and lunches are prepared for more than 3,000 children in the area. New Orleans' French Market will celebrate annual Creole Tomato Festival John Sillars, Chief Strategy Officer at Second Harvest, says that the schools are helping to cover costs of the feeding program. However, the New Orleans community also plays a large part in helping the program come to life. 'This is a program where we do get compensated partially by the Department of Education, but we do need community support to keep it going because it doesn't cover the entire cost,' Sillars said. 'There is a fundraising gap that we need, and we depend on the community to close that gap.' There are currently 72 summer feeding sites in South Louisiana, the majority being in the Greater New Orleans area. Those interested in donating their time or money to Second Harvest Food Bank can visit the Second Harvest auto repair chain to close 145 stores nationwide Gulf policymakers detail efforts to brace for 2025 hurricanes Popeyes takes a dig at McDonald's with newest menu item Wanted: Man threatens to kill entire family if they call police 2 rescued after plane crashes into ocean off coast of Connecticut Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Second Harvest Food Bank needs support amid federal funding cuts
ELMWOOD, La. (WGNO) — Federal funding cuts are now impacting charities, like Second Harvest Food Bank. Leaders of the nonprofit say they're going to need help from the public, so families don't go hungry. 37 loads of food expected to arrive at the food bank will not be coming because of cuts made to federal food programs.'That's over 600,000 pounds of food, which has a value to us of $1.1 million,' explained John Sillars, the chief strategy officer for Second Harvest Food Bank. New Orleans City Council resolution criticizes federal spending cuts Sillars says their food bank also relied on a program that allowed them to purchase fresh food from local farmers.'What we learned was, that program was being canceled nationwide, and so that is impacting us,' said Sillars. 'It's impacting the farmers who we were buying food from.' These cuts are happening as the amount of people experiencing food insecurity in south Louisiana increases to nearly 440,000.'Maybe it's a child who is, you know, it's Friday today, and they are leaving at the end of the day, and they're not sure when they're going to be eating over the weekend, if they're going to be eating over the weekend, because really, their main source of food is the food they get from school,' said goes on to say they've budgeted $500,000 to purchase food in the next few months, and they're leaning on other sources as well.'We're investing in food sourcing, staff and partner infrastructure, and then we're also depending on advocacy,' said donations are always welcome, and collection bins are located outside the facility on Edwards Avenue in Elmwood. People can also volunteer.'They can come help plate meals or pack boxes, and if they really want to help us out, they can call their federal and state representatives to express their support for food assistance in south Louisiana,' said Sillars. The USDA has terminated nearly 80 contracts so far, totaling more than $130 million dollars. Their secretary has said these cuts were necessary to stop wasteful spending and optimize the department to better serve American 2025's Strawberry Fest Grand Marshal! Meet this year's 'Strawberry Blossom' for Ponchatoula's Strawberry Fest Second Harvest Food Bank needs support amid federal funding cuts Bristol casino plans for first busy race weekend at permanent site REPORT: Saints QB Derek Carr's status for 2025 season now in jeopardy Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
