Funds to support families affected by 2025 federal shutdown

The Rapides Foundation recently approved an emergency funding grant of $300,000 for The Food Bank of Central Louisiana to help provide resources and support for Central Louisiana residents affected by the 2025 federal shutdown.

“There have only been a few times in our 31-year-history that the Foundation has gone outside its Strategic Grantmaking Framework,” said Joe Rosier, President and CEO of The Rapides Foundation. “We are focused and intentional as a grantmaker, but extraordinary events have required us to quickly respond to the communities we serve.”

In 2005 following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, The Rapides Foundation provided the United Way of Central Louisiana and nine Central Louisiana school districts with emergency response funding to meet the needs of the community. Then in 2020, the Foundation awarded grants to support agencies responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and, later that year, Hurricanes Laura and Delta. The Food Bank of Central Louisiana was one of the grant recipients that year.

Food Bank of Central Louisiana’s Executive Director, Jayne Wright-Velez, approached Rosier with the emergency assistance request in response to the impacts of the shutdown and its effects on the local community.

The Foundation’s Executive Committee on Monday, Oct. 27, approved the emergency grant to help the Food Bank meet increased food demands during the federal shutdown. The Foundation’s board voted unanimously to provide the emergency grant funding.

This funding allows the Food Bank to purchase food for those served by the organization, as well as for government employees and military families in need of food assistance with the loss of income during the federal shutdown.

The Federal Corrections Center in Oakdale on November 3 picked up a truckload of produce and other food items and distributed them to more than 150 employees. "Everyone was so appreciative," said Kylie Potts, associate warden secretary.

“We are deeply grateful to The Rapides Foundation for this exceptional $300,000 grant,” Wright-Velez said. “These funds will make an immediate and meaningful difference for thousands of our neighbors who face food insecurity. We are seeing an even greater need due to the government shutdown. With the state’s current SNAP funding limitations, we anticipate serving nearly 40 percent more households than usual this month. Thanks to The Rapides Foundation’s generosity, we will be able to purchase the food needed to meet this surge in demand and ensure that families, seniors and individuals across Central Louisiana do not go hungry during this difficult time.”