Second Harvest Food Bank in South Louisiana is facing severe challenges due to major federal funding cuts and canceled food shipments. These funding losses have resulted in a 14% workforce reduction and a $9.4 million deficit. The organization, which serves over 436,000 individuals across 23 parishes, confirmed the staffing reductions as part of efforts to adjust to financial constraints.
WWLTV reported that 37 truckloads of food—amounting to more than 600,000 pounds and valued at over $1.1 million—were expected but never delivered, intensifying the crisis for the food bank as it attempts to meet growing demand among families experiencing food insecurity.
Lindsay Hendrix, Second Harvest’s chief impact officer, told WDSU: “Even when the system shifts, our purpose stays the same." She continued, "We’re here to provide food for people to thrive, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.” However, delays in the USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and cancellation of a program that helped purchase fresh, local produce have added further uncertainty.
Paul Scelfo, regional director of Second Harvest, described the situation to KADN: “As we face these challenging times with our reductions, our sharp reductions in federal funding and other things, we've had to make some adjustments in our personnel.” He added, “The federal government, it's going through their reorganization, and it's causing us to have to adjust to that. The sharp reduction is about $9.4 million in funding that has been reduced, and we're just trying to reorganize and reimagine the new work to address those issues.” He highlighted that even small local donations are increasingly critical to sustaining operations.
The organization is calling on the public for support—through food and monetary donations, volunteering, and advocacy for continued funding—to help them continue addressing food insecurity.
