Louisiana worked together in January for the Million Meals for MLK campaign and donated 2.7 million meals to feed the hungry, which is 500,000 more meals over the inaugural year. Led by Volunteer Louisiana and Feeding Louisiana, the campaign honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service by mobilizing volunteers to support hunger relief efforts statewide.
"The success of this year’s Million Meals for MLK campaign shows the power of service and what can happen when communities work together. Nearly 3 million meals is a powerful achievement, but it is also a reminder of the work ahead,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “We’ve built real momentum in the fight against hunger – now we must keep it going. We need our dedicated community volunteers to continue showing up for their neighbors. Too many Louisianans still face hunger, and to meet that need takes more than one month of action. Continuing this spirit of service year-round is essential if we want to truly make a difference.”
Regardless of the success of this event, the fight to end world hunger does not stop.
“While 2.7 million meals is an incredible milestone, it represents just a single day’s necessity for the 830,000 Louisianans living with food insecurity,” said Pat R. Van Burkleo, Feeding Louisiana’s executive director. “Hunger is a relentless, year-round challenge that requires more than a one-time effort. To truly make a dent in this crisis, our neighbors need all of us to show up every day – join the fight against hunger by volunteering and donating to your local food bank.”
An estimated 1 in 6 Louisianians, including 1 in 4 children, face food insecurity. Nationally, Louisiana ranks third for child and senior hunger and fourth overall. Nationally, Louisiana is ranked third for both child and senior hunger, and fourth for overall hunger.
“We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make our second annual Million Meals for MLK campaign such a success,” said Pat R. Van Burkleo, executive director of Feeding Louisiana. “This campaign is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when communities come together with purpose. Now, we must carry that same momentum throughout the year to continue supporting the 1 in 6 Louisianians who face hunger.”
To learn more about Million Meals for MLK or to get involved, visit MillionMealsForMLK.org.
