Catholic Charities of Acadiana and Love Our Community announce the donation of mobile food vans to address hunger throughout Acadiana
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 18th, 2021
LAFAYETTE, LA - Through a generous founding donation from Love Our Community, Catholic Charities of Acadiana is pleased to announce the development of a new mobile food program that will be operated through St. Joseph Diner. This new venture will help to address the growing need in rural communities where many cannot currently access fresh meals. Now, St. Joseph Diner will increase access to freshly prepared meals by providing to those in need through distribution points throughout Acadiana.
The founding donation from Love Our Community includes three new Ram ProMaster vans, each modified to include a serving window that will allow St. Joseph Diner-prepared food to be efficiently served via a mobile setting.
“Disaster often brings to light vulnerabilities within a community,” said Kim Boudreaux, CEO of Catholic Charities of Acadiana. “Since the start of last year, we’ve realized that there are areas in Acadiana that literally cannot access freshly prepared or shelf-stable food. We are so grateful for the generous gift from Love our Community of these food vans, truly giving us the ability to respond with mercy to families and individuals who cannot access emergency food assistance.”
Catholic Charities of Acadiana is actively working with parish-based social ministries and partner organizations throughout Acadiana to identify existing gaps in service. The mobile food van program will develop over time to meet the changing needs within the eight parishes of Acadiana, both during and outside of times of disaster.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Love Our Community endeavored to meet critical needs in our community where food access was, and remains, a priority,” said Ryan R. Domengeaux, CEO & General Counsel of the William C. Schumacher Family Foundation. “Through Love Our Community and in collaboration with many, we are thrilled to help meet a critical need in Acadiana. We didn’t hesitate to empower St. Joseph Diner when Catholic Charities of Acadiana asked us to help find a way to distribute more food to those in need.”
The new mobile diner program will be 100% donor-supported, so the community is invited to support this program by clicking here.
About Catholic Charities of Acadiana and St. Joseph Diner:
St. Joseph Diner is a program of Catholic Charities of Acadiana, operated in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank. Catholic Charities of Acadiana cares for the sacred gift of all human life, especially the most vulnerable. CCA operates several programs that serve those who are currently experiencing homelessness, hunger, and poverty in Acadiana. Since 1973, its programs have represented a response to the Gospel call to carry out the corporal works of mercy: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, offering hospitality to the homeless, caring for the sick, visiting the imprisoned, and burying the dead.
About Love Our Community:
An initiative of the William C. Schumacher Foundation (WCSFF), Love Our Community was founded to provide support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was founded, funded, and supported by many throughout Acadiana, and beyond. WCSFF is a Lafayette-based philanthropic organization dedicated to improving lives by engaging the community in areas such as education, arts and culture, healthcare, crisis response, and other vital interests impacting the overall quality of life in Louisiana and beyond.
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