Emeril Lagasse Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank Reach 1 Millionth Meal Milestone

Emeril Lagasse Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank
Reach 1 Millionth Meal Milestone

NEW ORLEANS - The Emeril Lagasse Foundation recently celebrated its one millionth meal funded through Second Harvest Food Bank's Summer Feeding program - an annual summer-long anti-hunger program that prepares and delivers fresh, healthy meals to summer campers in New Orleans.

In Louisiana, over 83 percent of children rely on the free and reduced meals program and receive most of their calories at school. In summer, these kids have little other access to food. Since 2010, Second Harvest's Summer Feeding program has worked with local schools, camps and agencies to alleviate this need.

Emeril Lagasse Foundation has granted a total of $250,000 over six years, providing nutrition to high-poverty neighborhoods in New Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard and surrounding parishes. This summer alone, 4,000 children at risk of hunger will benefit from this program, receiving breakfast, lunch and snacks at over 60 safe sites in New Orleans.

"No child should ever have to worry about where their next meal is going to come from," said Brian Kish, President of the Emeril Lagasse Foundation. "Making good, nutritious food available for children during the summer helps ease that burden, and we're honored to take part in this huge milestone with Second Harvest."

Hot meals and healthy snacks are prepared fresh each day by Second Harvest volunteers, delivered free of charge and meet or exceed USDA nutritional guidelines, ensuring that at-risk children have access to food and the benefits that come from being well-nourished and ready to learn. This is part of a nationwide effort to reduce summertime hunger, as the USDA aims to provide 200 million meals this summer.

"The support of the Emeril Lagasse Foundation over the last six years has been life-changing for so many young people in South Louisiana," said Natalie Jayroe, President and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank. "I can't stress enough the positive impact these Summer Feeding sites have made in the lives, nutrition and well-being of some of our most vulnerable children, and to the overall health of our communities. We're so proud to partner with the Foundation to reach this milestone, and look forward to many more."

The Emeril Lagasse Foundation is proud to support organizations like Second Harvest Food Bank and join in the fight against hunger in New Orleans. Learn more about causes making a difference here.

About Emeril Lagasse Foundation:
Founded in 2002 by Chef Emeril Lagasse and his wife Alden, Emeril Lagasse Foundation is a 501c(3) public charity headquartered in New Orleans. The Foundation's mission is to create opportunities to inspire, mentor and enable youth to reach their full potential through culinary, nutrition and arts education. Since its inception, Emeril Lagasse Foundation has granted more than $6 million to children's charities to support culinary, nutrition and arts programs. To learn more about the Foundation and its beneficiaries, visit Emeril.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

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