Department of Agriculture and Forestry, State of Louisiana - Mike Strain DVM, Commissioner

NEWS

Businesses Support 4-H, FFA; Donate Meat to Area Food Bank

March 12, 2013

The Covington Food Bank is the recipient of approximately 1,500 pounds of pork and lamb (eight pigs and two lambs) courtesy of several Louisiana business owners who support 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) members.

“We thought this would be a win-win for the young people who participate in 4-H and FFA competitions as well as the food bank,” said Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M. “We asked these businesses if they would purchase the livestock and donate the meat to the food bank and they were all willing. I say this is a win-win because the 4-H and FFA participants earn money off the purchase which they often put toward their education and the food bank is getting the meat donations,” added Strain.

Covington Food Bank Executive Director Terri Turner-Marse says meat is a food staple that people who are “food insecure” get very little of because of the high cost. “A lot of people who live in rural parishes such as Washington, Tangipahoa and St. Tammany have a difficult time getting access to good food and must come to our food bank. The donation of this meat is a real bonus.”

The company’s and/or individuals who donated meat include: Christwood Retirement, Chris and Angie Jean, Huval Properties, Huval’s Trucking, Manda Fine Meats, ServiceMaster and St. Tammany Parish Assessor Louis Fitzmorris.

The Covington Food Bank relies mostly on local food and cash donations to feed about 1,200 families each month and hands out about 75,000 pounds of food per month.

For more information on how to support 4-H and FFA and donate to any food bank in the state, contact the LDAF press office at 225-922-1234 or presssecretary@ldaf.la.gov.