On Monday, October 8th, the entire Neighbors staff will volunteer throughout the community. Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome has declared the day Neighbors Day in Baton Rouge.
Our staff will be volunteering with 13 different charity organizations and schools. We wanted to highlight a few of these organizations we’re going to be working with on Neighbors Day.
Here’s what our friends at the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank had to say:
What services does this organization provide for the community?
- The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank was organized to feed the hungry in Baton Rouge and the surrounding parishes by providing food and educational outreach through faith-based and other community partners. With community support, the Food Bank has served the hungry in its 11-parish service area for more than 30 years.
Why are the services provided by your organization necessary?
- Hunger and health are deeply connected. In the 11 parishes, we serve, more than 133,000 people (or almost 15% of the population) are food insecure. That means they do not know where their next meal will come from, or if it will even come at all. But when people don’t have enough food or have to choose inexpensive foods with low-nutritional value, it can seriously impact their health. People who are food insecure are disproportionally affected by diet-sensitive chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and according to research, food insecurity is also linked to many adverse effects on overall health. The effects of hunger on the brain and body are hindering, and sometimes devastating. Hunger delays cognitive, social and emotional development. Hunger also hinders our ability to focus and can negatively affect our decision making. Family members in food-insecure households are also more likely to struggle with psychological and behavioral health issues. Kids struggling to get enough to eat are more likely to have problems in school and other social situations.
What can individuals do if they wish to support your organization?
- You can make a difference in their lives by simply giving food, donating funds or volunteering your time in service to others. You can also become an advocate on behalf of people facing hunger in our community by keeping yourself informed regarding state legislation on hunger and raising awareness of hunger as a public health issue.
What areas do you serve?
- Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. James, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana Parish
What will Neighbors be doing to help out on Neighbors Day?
- Volunteers will provide support by sorting and packing food for distribution, as well as organizing and cleaning the warehouse.