Three Organizations Receive Grant Funding From Louisiana Healthcare Connections

Funded projects will combat food insecurity in Alexandria, Lake Charles and New Orleans

News provided by

Aug 09, 2018, 08:00 ET

BATON ROUGE, La., Aug. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Louisiana Healthcare Connections has announced the award of $45,000 in grant funds to three non-profit organizations in support of community-level projects focused on reducing food insecurity and hunger in Louisiana.

Award recipients include:

Abraham's Tent Association of Lake Charles, for its Feeding Program to provide meals to low income individuals and families in Calcasieu Parish.
The Food Bank of Central Louisiana in Alexandria, for its Good Food Project Pilot School Garden Program to support the development of two school gardens at schools within Rapides Parish School District.
The New Orleans AIDS Task Force/CrescentCare of New Orleans, for its Food For Friends food pantry program for low income and/or homeless individuals and families, and meal delivery program for homebound individuals living with HIV or cancer.

Each organization will receive a $15,000 grant to support its designated project as part of Louisiana Healthcare Connections' Community Health Grants Initiative, a program designed to combat food insecurity and hunger in Louisiana. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food insecurity often requires a household to choose between basic necessities, such as medical needs or housing, and purchasing healthy foods.

"Food insecurity is one of the most serious social determinants of health in our state," said Chelsea Graves, Community Relations Principal at Louisiana Healthcare Connections. "The projects proposed by these three organizations represent opportunities to make a lasting difference in food security at the community level, and we are pleased to support their efforts through our Community Health Grants program."

The Community Health Grants program made available up to $45,000 in grant funds for up to three eligible non-profit organizations in Louisiana. Eligible organizations were required to submit detailed descriptions of the projects for which funding was requested as well as descriptions of anticipated long- and short-term outcomes.

"Our objective is to improve the health and well-being of not only our members, but also the communities in which they live and work, and that mission was echoed in the projects proposed by the many organizations across the state that applied for these grants," said Kendra Case, COO. "We commend the work of these organizations, and appreciate all they do to reduce hunger and improve health in our state."

About Louisiana Healthcare Connections

Established to deliver quality healthcare through local, regional and community-based partners, Louisiana Healthcare Connections is a Healthy Louisiana Plan headquartered in Baton Rouge, La. Louisiana Healthcare Connections exists to improve the health of its members through focused, compassionate and coordinated care. Because Louisiana Healthcare Connections believes healthy is a way of life, its members benefit from programs and services designed for personal well-being. For more information, visit www.LouisianaHealthConnect.com.

SOURCE Louisiana Healthcare Connections