The Communications Team Behind the Brand

Kristen Bellatti With a lifelong love for art, Kristen Bellatti has built a career that fulfills her creatively while serving a greater purpose of helping those in need. Kristen’s journey with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank began in April 2021 when she joined as an administrative assistant, supporting the

How Purchasing Food Makes Best Use of Donor Funding

Perhaps you have heard the Food Bank mention that just $1 can provide food equivalent to 3 meals in our 11-parish service area. At first glance, you may be asking yourself – ‘how is that possible?’ This article explains how it works. As a partner Food Bank of Feeding America,

Answering the Call to Be a Caregiver for Others

Not everyone chooses the life of being a caregiver. Sometimes it chooses you. For Stacy Sholes, his life experiences have been largely shaped by taking care of others. From age 11, he had the keys to the house and was considered the primary care giver for his family. “I was

Nancy Penn: A Visionary Behind the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank’s 40-Year Journey

In 1984, the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank was born out of necessity. Baton Rouge was reeling from an economic downturn that left many families struggling to afford basic necessities. Amid this crisis, Nancy Penn, then serving as the Episcopal Hunger Coordinator, stepped forward with a vision to address hunger

Meet the Team – Forklift Operators

At the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, the mission to serve those in need relies on our warehouse team to keep shelves stocked, donations organized, and food moving. An essential part of this operation are the forklift operators, who handle, lift, and transport the food inventory to keep the Food

Food is Medicine Program – A Holistic Approach to Healthcare

At the intersection of food security and healthcare lies the Food is Medicine program, a collaborative effort that combines the expertise of food banks with the reach of healthcare facilities. The program ensures that individuals not only receive medical care but also the nutrition they need to lead healthier lives.

Expanding Our Cold Storage: A Commitment to Healthier Food Options

In mid-2020, we embarked on a significant expansion of our cold storage capacity, a move that has had a remarkable impact on our operations and the services we provide to the community. The expansion was prompted by a combination of factors, including the increasing volumes of fresh produce we were

Meet the Team – Ariane Dent

Ariane Dent has been at the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank for over two years working to maintain and grow our internal programs. As the Senior Programs Coordinator, Ari helps to run the BackPack Program, the Senior Grocery Program, and the Mobile Pantry Program, and this year has added the

Finding Purpose Through Helping Community

For Lynn Mearidy, life hasn’t always been easy, but she’s always had her faith to fall back on in tough times. Born and raised in North Baton Rouge, Lynn fell ill after working as an East Baton Rouge Parish Schools bus driver for 22 years. Eventually, she would need to

Turning Compassion Into Action by Giving Back

Since 2000, Alma Alexander has committed herself to making a difference by giving back to her community. When asked how she first heard about the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, she explained that her journey into giving came out of a desire to help others, even though she was not