Q&A with Board Chairman Eddie Hughes
In this new blog series, the will introduce you to a few of the Food Bank’s board members. This Q&A is with our Board Chairman, Eddie Hughes.
- Name, Employer, Position
- Edward Hughes, Taylor Porter, Brooks, & Phillips, LLP Law Firm, Partner
- What are some of your hobbies?
- Golf, traveling, spending time with my family, my wife, Ashley, and two children, Caroline and Bracey
- Why did you decide to join the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank’s Board?
- My good friend, Russell Mosely, was on the board 5 years ago and told me about its inspiring mission. He made me want to be a part of the organization.
- Why do you think the work of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank is important to the community?
- Food availability and hunger impacts every facet of our lives. When people in our community don’t know where their next meal is coming from, it disturbs the fabric of our society. Children don’t do as well in school and they aren’t as healthy as they should be. Some seniors must make a choice between buying medicine or buying healthy food. The working poor must devote a greater proportion of their income to food than those who are more fortunate. The Food Bank helps to ease some of these burdens by helping its agencies provide food to those in need. Those who avail themselves of the food from the Food Bank and its agencies can devote their energies to other issues without worrying where their (or their child’s or their elderly parent’s) next meal is going to come from.
- What are you most proud of about the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank/What excites you most about the Food Bank’s future?
- I think we are one of the shining lights in our community. Our employees and board members believe in our mission to help feed the hungry. We always look for new and innovative ways to bring food to the people in our community who need it. It never ceases to amaze me when one of our staff comes up with a brand new idea that helps expand our reach in our community. I am fortunate that the Food Bank has incredibly professional executive staff and motivated and mission-driven employees who work hard every day to eliminate hunger in this community. And I know that these hardworking people will continue fulfilling the mission even after I leave the Board. I’m also excited about the future because this community has shown time and time again that it believes in the Food Bank’s mission.
- What are you goals as Chairman of the Board?
- I want to continue to add to the success achieved by my predecessors. This organization went through Katrina and Gustav, and came back stronger. It went through the devastating flood of 2016, and came back stronger. It not only recovered each time, but thrived because of our dedicated staff and because our community supported our mission. If I can continue to help this organization thrive and distribute even more food to those in need in our community, I will have done my job.
Your Nonperishable Food Donation
Have you ever wondered what happens to food once it has been donated to the Food Bank? Read on for an insider's view of the food sorting process and how it is distributed to those in need. Nonperishable foods are a staple to the Food Bank's work. Many local grocery stores have Food
Interview with Brian Doyle, Committee Member of Empty Bowls
Each year, the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank benefits from many different events that promote the mission of our organization, which is to feed the hungry in Baton Rouge and the surrounding parishes by providing food and educational outreach through faith-based and other community partners. One event in particular that has received tremendous support is Empty Bowls and here’s