{"id":11583,"date":"2020-12-16T14:33:06","date_gmt":"2020-12-16T14:33:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/louisiana\/?p=11583"},"modified":"2020-12-16T14:36:30","modified_gmt":"2020-12-16T14:36:30","slug":"to-2020s-hunger-heroes-thank-you-we-cant-say-it-enough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/louisiana\/2020\/12\/16\/to-2020s-hunger-heroes-thank-you-we-cant-say-it-enough\/","title":{"rendered":"To 2020\u2019s Hunger Heroes \u2013 Thank You. We Can\u2019t Say It Enough."},"content":{"rendered":"

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2020 has been a devastating year for our nation, as a global pandemic has killed more than 300,000 Americans and left many more facing hunger and poverty.<\/p>\n

So many Louisianans have struggled in the face of multiple crises this year, as the health and economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic have raged on at the same time that hurricanes and storms destroyed homes and property across our state. In Louisiana, more than 1 million people could face hunger this year, including 35% of all children – the highest rate of any state in the nation.<\/p>\n

Amidst all of the challenges we\u2019ve faced, there are stories of hope \u2013 among them, the champions who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the hundreds of thousands of kids in Louisiana who rely on school meals would not go hungry when schools were closed.<\/p>\n

School nutrition staff have emerged as unsung heroes of the coronavirus pandemic, working day in and day out, at times putting their own health at risk to serve students with a smile.<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the same time, the coronavirus pandemic has completely upended school meal programs as we know them. As schools have adjusted to remote learning, hybrid models, and changes within the building to keep students and staff safe, school nutrition departments have had to work quickly to make sure meals remain available for every student.<\/p>\n

These frontline hunger heroes \u2013 school nutrition staff and transportation professionals, community leaders, administrators, teachers, and volunteers \u2013 have done everything they can to ensure that kids continue to have access to meals. Heroes like the Sankofa Community Development Corporation, the New Orleans Recreation Department Commission, Three O\u2019Clock Project<\/a> and so many others. In a time of great uncertainty, they are making certain that students in Louisiana can count on healthy meals.<\/p>\n

Since the onset of the pandemic, No\u00a0Kid Hungry Louisiana has mobilized to respond\u00a0to the unexpected\u00a0needs across our state, granting more than $2.8\u00a0million to\u00a045 schools and community organizations<\/a> in every corner of Louisiana to support their emergency response efforts<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here are just a few examples of the work our team has been incredibly proud to support this year through grant funding and technical assistance:<\/p>\n