Since 1982, Second Harvest has been steadfast in its mission to bring nourishment and relief to our neighbors facing the heavy burden of food insecurity.
From delivering meals of nourishment, to standing by our community during its most trying times, to building a circle of partnerships rooted in kindness and shared purpose; we have woven a journey of unwavering service, compassion, and purpose that brings hope to many communities across Southwest Louisiana.
Every step of this incredible journey has been made possible because of YOU. Your generosity, your time, and your belief in our mission have been at the heart of everything we do.
Within these pages, we hope you see not just our deep connection to this community, but YOUR impact.
Through the stories of those we’ve helped and the strides we’ve taken together, today, we celebrate the power of us, and our shared dream of a future without hunger.
Our Mission Milestones
Food is essential. No matter our circumstances, we all need food to survive and thrive. At Second Harvest, we believe no child, no senior, no neighbor should ever go hungry. While many only see the need during a disaster, we believe any day without food is a disaster. That’s why since 1982, through the generosity of donors and volunteers, Second Harvest and our network of community partners have worked with optimism and respect to provide essential resources across South Louisiana.
It takes all of us to end hunger in South Louisiana. When you donate or volunteer on behalf of your community, you help families and neighbors in your community. This is what neighbors in South Louisiana do for one another. We make sure there’s a place at the table for all of us.
Guided by our mission to end hunger, we’ve grown into the
Second Harvest was founded by Archbishop Philip M. Hannan, Bishop Roger P. Morin, Brother Ronald Specht, and Gregory Ben Johnson.
Second Harvest becomes a disaster response leader in SWLA for the COVID-19 Pandemic, Hurricanes Laura and Delta.
Second Harvest hosts its first Hunger Action Summit to spark community discussion and action around tackling food insecurity across SWLA.
Second Harvest partners with McNeese State University to open the first Community Kitchen where hot meals are prepared for food insecure neighbors across SWLA.
Second Harvest hosts it’s inaugural “Tee Off Against Hunger” Golf Tournament to raise awareness and support to end hunger in SWLA.
Second Harvest opens its first ever Distribution Center to better serve SWLA.
The Southwest Network
REACHING THE REGION WE SERVE
Southwest Louisiana is as unique as it is diverse, and so are its challenges. Serving in small rural towns to urban hubs, the Southwest network is designed to meet community challenges head-on.
With over 30 partners and feeding programs, the distribution center will help connect farmers, food manufacturers, and donors directly to neighbors in need. This allows us to make a meaningful impact where it matters most.
Southwest Parishes served from Second Harvest’s Distribution Center in Lake Charles, LA.
Beaurgard Parish
Calcasieu Parish
Cameron Parish
Jeff Davis Parish
PARTNERS IN HOPE
Second Harvest works alongside a strong network of partners across Southwest Louisiana.
BEAUREGARD PARTNERS
Community Outreach Center – Food Pantry
God’s Food Box - Food Pantry
New Step Outreach – Food Pantry
South Beau C.A.R.E. Ministries – Food Pantry
St. Joseph Catholic Church – Food Pantry
St. Pius X Catholic Church – Food Pantry
CALCASIEU PARISH
Abraham’s Tent – Meal Program
Care Help of Sulphur – Food Pantry
Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana – RDO
Christian World – Food Pantry
City of Lake Charles – Kids Café
Combre-Fondel – School Pantry
Comprehensive Care Center of SWLA – Food Pantry
Faith and Friends Food Pantry – Food Pantry
Glad Tidings/Dorcas Room Ministry – Food Pantry
Greater St. Mary Baptist Church – Food Pantry
New Sunlight Baptist Church – Food Pantry
Pentecostals of Vinton, Vinton – Food Pantry
St. Joseph Catholic Church – Food Pantry
Westlake United Methodist Church – Food Pantry
CAMERON PARISH
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church – Food Pantry
South Cameron High – School Pantry
JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH
First Baptist Church – Food Pantry
God’s Pantry – Food Pantry
Jeff Davis CADA – Shelter
Jeff Davis Council on Aging – Meals on Wheels
New Jerusalem Baptist Church – Food Pantry
Our Lady of Christians Catholic Church – Food Pantry
St. Paul Catholic Church – Food Pantry
LEADERSHIP SUPPORTING THE MISSION
Their leadership drives innovation and builds sustainable partnerships throughout the region. Take a moment to learn more about the incredible leaders supporting our mission.
Dennis N. Stine
Dennis Stine is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stine Home and Yard, where he was previously President. He serves as the Chairman of the Business Advisory Council at McNeese State University and the Louisiana Trooper Foundation. In addition, he is member of the Board of Directors for CHRISTUS Health, Inc., Allied Building Stores, Inc., and the Council for a Better Louisiana. He previously served from 1987 to 1988 as a democrat in the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 33 in Calcasieu Parish and as Commissioner of Administration under Governor Buddy Roemer. Stine has also held the position of Chairman at the CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), both from McNeese State University. He is also a graduate of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive Program and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from McNeese State University.
William Gray Stream
W. Gray Stream is the founder and Executive Chaiman of Gulf Coast Sequestration (GCS) and the President of Matilda Stream Management, Inc., which manages the business and investing activities of the Stream family. He also serves as Vice President of M-Heart Corporation, as President of Graystoke, Inc. and as President of Placid Indemnity Company, Inc. In addition to his professional roles, Stream has served and led numerous charitable and civic causes. He has served on the Louisiana Innovation Council; the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration, and Conservation, and the board of directors for the SWLA Economic Development Alliance. A passionate advocate for education and entrepreneurship, Stream currently serves on the Executive Committee for the Louisiana Committee of 100 for Economic Development as incoming Chairman and as a Director for the National World War II Museum. He formerly served on the Louisiana Board of Regents as Regent for the 3rd Congressional District. Stream is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and he received an MBA in Management and Finance from Rice University.
IMPOSSIBLE CHOICES
Many of our neighbors across Southwest Louisiana regularly have to make unbearable choices when it comes to putting food on the table. Should a family pay their electric bill or put dinner on the table? Should a parent skip meals, so their child has enough to eat? Hunger touches more lives in Southwest Louisiana than you might think. For many, daily life comes with these impossible choices.
HUNGER ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST
If you can’t FEED a hundred people, FEED just one. – Mother Theresa
The Mission in Action
HOW WE SERVE
How Second Harvest works to increase food security across South Louisiana is determined by the needs of that community. How we serve never changes. It’s through partnerships across 23 parishes and the vital programs made possible. But most importantly, it’s keeping the needs of our neighbors first in mind that guides how we serve the Southwest and every other community we serve to ensure food access and nutrition for our most vulnerable neighbors.
• Growers
• Processors
• Restaurants
• Manufacturers
• Financial Supporters
• Retailers/Wholesalers
• Food & Fund Drives
• USDA Government
• Feeding America
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK
• Food Pantries
• Soup Kitchens
• Shelters
• Schools
• After-School Sites DONATIONS
• Hospitals/Clinics
• Community Centers
• Senior Programs
• Emergency Shelters
COMMUNITIES SERVED
WHO WE SERVE
Seniors
Homelessness
Voices of Resilience
Through the Distribution Center and your support, we will fuel more voices of resilience and stories of hope. Sharing their stories helps us celebrate our collective impact and reminds us that we are always stronger together.
Theresa | Beauregard Parish
Meet Theresa from Merryville, Louisiana—a true symbol of compassion. After losing everything in a wildfire, she didn’t focus on her own needs. Instead, she gave her time and heart to help her elderly neighbors in need, volunteering with Second Harvest to deliver emergency food to homebound seniors.
TABTHA | Calcasieu Parish
Meet supermom Tabitha Nicholas, who, alongside her husband, Dr. Kedrick Nicholas, is raising two sons who excel academically as honor students and actively participate in athletics. As a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Nicholas Nutrition & Optimal Wellness (NOW), she is dedicated to improving community health in Southwest Louisiana. Her volunteer work at Second Harvest’s Makin’ Groceries Mobile Market, which offers affordable healthy food options for families, reflects her commitment to health and community, while instilling the values of compassion and volunteerism in her two sons!
Kutter | Cameron Parish
Hunger makes learning impossible for students like Kutter, whose family faced hardship after Hurricane Laura. Second Harvest’s School Pantry Program helps kids like Kutter and their family receive the nourishment they deserve. By partnering with schools like South Cameron High School, Second Harvest makes meals possible when kids like Kutter need them most in a environment they trust—school!
Karllis | Jeff Davis Parish
Karllis cherishes his daily visits to Jeff Davis Council on Aging, where he connects with fellow seniors over shared stories and a warm meal. For five years, Second Harvest Food Bank’s Meals on Wheels program has been a lifeline, providing Karllis and his fellow seniors with both nourishment and a sense of community.
From Seeking Help to Offering Hope: Vicki’s Journey to God’s Pantry
More than 17 years ago, Vicki Rushing turned to Second Harvest for help when she couldn’t qualify for food assistance.
“When I first was injured, I could not receive any food or anything. I was going around trying to get help with food but since I had no biological children and I wasn’t of the age of 60 or older, nobody in Jeff Davis Parish could help me with food.”
She was advised to contact Second Harvest. That simple piece of advice changed everything—not just to meet her immediate needs but planted the seed for what would become her life’s work. And the rest is history.
Today, Vicki leads God’s Pantry in Jennings, the largest food pantry serving 2,000 families across
Jeff Davis Parish since March 2020. Partnering with Second Harvest, God’s Pantry is more than a source of food—it’s a place of hope and kindness, guided by the principle, “Loving God, loving each other.”
Despite its impact, God’s Pantry faces tough financial challenges, with Vicki often covering costs herself. But with Second Harvest’s new distribution center in Lake Charles, she hopes to expand the pantry’s resources to reach more neighbors in need.
With your donation, time, or advocacy, you can help create a ripple effect of hope and help the next Vicki Rushing find their life’s purpose.
Heroes
To our volunteers, retail and food industry partners, financial and community supporters, YOU are the reason Second Harvest has been able to serve Southwest Louisiana for more than four decades. You helped make this milestone...this celebration possible. Thank you for your time, gifts, and passion that powers everything we do.
with your support, the future looks
Bright
Hunger may be complex, but together, it’s solvable. Currently, Second Harvest meets 38% of the need in Southwest Louisiana. Looking ahead, the Distribution Center will allow Second Harvest to:
• Increase our impact on the community to meet 80% of the need.
• Provide over 9.6 million worth of additional food each year in Southwest Louisiana.
• Increase deliveries to over 20 partner pantries across the Southwest region.
• Establish a base location for quick and efficient emergency response during disasters.
What’s Next?
Second Harvest is committed to expanding our impact in key areas, such as improving food distribution logistics, increasing outreach in underserved communities, and introducing sustainable solutions for food waste reduction by:
• Creating more job and volunteer opportunities.
• Expanding digital food assistance tools for better accessibility.
• Increasing partnerships with local farmers and food retailers.
• Offering more educational programs that improve nutrition and wellness awareness.
for celebrating this milestone with us! Thank You
Over 40 years of service, our mission remains the same. The way you can help, remains the same. Stay Connected. Get Involved. Make an Impact.
VOLUNTEER
Give your time by packing food boxes, assisting at food collection events, or distributing meals to those in need.
GIVE THE GIFT OF FOOD & FUNDS
Every $1 you give helps us provide up to 3 meals for a family in need. Host a food drive at work or with family & friends!
ADVOCATE!
Speak up! Spread the word about food insecurity and encourage your social network to get involved.
FOLLOW US!
Stay engaged on social media for updates, events, and opportunities to make a difference. Sign up on our volunteer hub so you never miss a chance to help.
