Lafayette donation site planned for May 16 food drive
 
LAFAYETTE, La. – An Entergy bucket truck will soon be used to provide a completely different service for the community — fighting hunger.

On Wednesday, May 16, Entergy and Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana plan to "Fill the Bucket Truck with 2,000 Meals" to help address the increased need for emergency food assistance during summer months when children are out of school. Food items may be dropped off from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the intersection of Bertrand Street and Congress Street, donors can enter the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Cajun Field at the intersection of Bertrand Street and Reinhardt Street.

"At Entergy, we estimate that as many as 25 percent of our residential customers live in poverty, and one in every five children in Louisiana is at risk for hunger," said Liz Duhon, customer service manager for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C. "That's why we sponsor low-income initiatives that give a helping hand to those in our communities who need it most.

"The food donations we collect help provide nutritious meals to thousands of children who might otherwise go hungry in the summer months when schools are closed," Duhon continued. "We hope we can count on the community's support and generosity to make the 2012 food drive a great success."

Across Second Harvest Food Bank's 23-parish service area, which includes southwest Louisiana, more than 245,000 — or 63 percent — of children in public and charter schools rely on the federal free- and reduced-meal programs for breakfast and lunch during the school year. However, in the summer months, only 13 percent of these children have access to a feeding program.

"We are extremely grateful to Entergy for their ongoing partnership in the fight against hunger," said Natalie Jayroe, president and chief executive officer of Second Harvest Food Bank. "The Entergy food drive comes at a critical time to help stock the shelves and ensure that children and families have access to the food they need during summer months."

Suggestions for donated items include peanut butter, soups and stews, canned fruits and vegetables, tuna fish, chili, cereal, beans, juice, rice, pasta and crackers.

Businesses, schools and community organizations are being encouraged to support the May 16 effort by organizing auxiliary food drives. The Second Harvest website, located at no-hunger.org, provides tips on how to plan successful food drives, in addition to information about hunger programs, volunteer opportunities and making donations.

Entergy's Louisiana utility companies serve more than one million customers through the operating companies Entergy Louisiana, LLC and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C. With operations in southern, central and northeastern Louisiana, the companies are part of Entergy Corporation's electric system serving 2.8 million customers in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana is leading the fight against hunger in south Louisiana through food distribution, education, advocacy and disaster response. Annually, Second Harvest serves approximately 263,000 people through 240 nonprofit and faith-based agencies across 23 south Louisiana parishes – from the Mississippi border to the Texas state line. In any given week, nearly 42,000 people access emergency food services through Second Harvest Food Bank member agencies.