The Walls Project is proud to announce that it has been awarded a grant through the Joe Burrow Foundation to support the Capital Area Food Equity Coalition (CAFÉ), a coalition of the OneRouge Coalitions, in their efforts to address food insecurity as an intersectional driver of poverty in East Baton Rouge Parish.
The Joe Burrow Foundation (JBF) is dedicated to providing resources and support to the underprivileged and underserved, primarily focusing on aiding children with mental illness and those facing food insecurity in Greater Cincinnati and Baton Rouge. The partnership between The Walls Project, CAFÉ, and the Joe Burrow Foundation highlights a commitment to combating food insecurity and poverty in the community.
In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its far-reaching impacts, the need to address food insecurity in East Baton Rouge Parish has become even more critical. Prior to the pandemic, the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank estimated that approximately 1 in 5 individuals in the area experienced food insecurity. The economic disruptions caused by the pandemic have only exacerbated this issue, underscoring the urgency of this collaborative grant initiative.
CAFÉ, a coalition of over 100 organizations, is dedicated to reducing the number of individuals experiencing food insecurity in the Capital Region. The coalition's objectives include ensuring equitable access to three healthy meals per day, promoting the use of existing feeding programs such as SNAP, and addressing the multiple factors contributing to food insecurity.
The grant awarded to The Walls Project and CAFÉ will facilitate the development and implementation of a comprehensive program to tackle food insecurity in East Baton Rouge Parish. The program will leverage the expertise and resources of CAFÉ and the OneRouge Coalition, working together to create lasting systemic change.
The program will focus on four key areas:
Increasing Access to Healthy Food
Promoting Economic Development
Raising Awareness of Feeding Programs
Empowering Individuals and Families
The Walls Project, CAFÉ, and the Joe Burrow Foundation stand united in their commitment to addressing food insecurity as a crucial step toward breaking the cycle of poverty. This grant marks an important stride toward building a resilient, nourished, and empowered Baton Rouge community.