Louisiana Anti-Hunger Day at the Capitol Brings Strong Voice for Hunger Relief

Feeding Louisiana and the Louisiana Anti-Hunger Coalition hosted a successful 2026 Louisiana Anti-Hunger Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, May 19, bringing together food bank leaders, pantry partners, students, farmers, advocates, volunteers, and community organizations from across the state.

 The day was a powerful reminder that hunger affects every region of Louisiana and that practical policy solutions can help strengthen food access for families, children, seniors, students, and working households. With more than 200 participants expected, the event created an important opportunity for advocates to connect directly with lawmakers and elevate the need for continued investment in anti-hunger programs.

 The day began at the Louisiana State Capitol with registration, followed by a press conference in the Capitol Gardens. Speakers highlighted the real impact of hunger in Louisiana and the importance of building strong partnerships to address it. Special thanks to Martha Marak, CEO of the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana; April Brown, Baton Rouge Community College Pantry Director; Taylor Chapman, BRCC student hunger advocate; and Rhonda Jackson, Director of No Kid Hungry Louisiana, for sharing their perspectives and helping connect policy discussions to the lived experiences of Louisiana families and students.

We are especially grateful to our event sponsors and partners, including No Kid Hungry Louisiana, Invest in Louisiana, and Save the Children Action Network. Their support helped make the day possible and reflected the shared understanding that food security is connected to child well-being, education, health, workforce stability, and long-term community strength.

 Following the press conference, participants traveled to the East Baton Rouge Parish Library River Center Branch for a working lunch and breakout session.  A special thank you to Invest in Louisiana for leading the Advocacy 101 breakout session and helping participants better understand how to tell their stories, communicate with legislators, and advocate for policies that reduce hunger.

 We also appreciate Ted James, Julie Stokes, and Jay Dardenne for lending their voices, time, and support to the day. Their participation helped reinforce the importance of bipartisan engagement and public leadership in addressing hunger across Louisiana.

 After lunch, participants returned to the Capitol for legislative visits, committee engagement, and continued conversations with lawmakers. These meetings helped connect elected officials with the people and organizations working every day to ensure Louisiana residents have access to nutritious food.

 Anti-Hunger Day at the Capitol was more than a single event. It was a visible demonstration of the growing statewide movement to end hunger in Louisiana. By bringing together food banks, community partners, students, advocates, and policymakers, the day showed what is possible when we speak with a unified voice.

 Thank you to everyone who participated, sponsored, spoke, volunteered, and helped make the 2026 Louisiana Anti-Hunger Day at the Capitol a success. Together, we are building stronger partnerships, raising awareness, and advocating for a healthier Louisiana.