Celebrating 35 Years at the Port of Gulfport: Randy Ladner Looks Back on a Meaningful Career

After 35 years of hard work, countless memories and more than a few gray hairs, Randy Ladner is preparing to retire from the Port of Gulfport. Sitting down for a heartfelt chat, Randy shared stories from his decades on the job, stories of change, challenge, growth and pride in the place he’s called his work home since 1990. 
From the job site to the docks 
Before joining the Port, Randy was in construction, building homes and apartments in Gulfport and other areas. It was solid work, but not alw...

Port of Gulfport Employee Realizes Dream to Play Professional Baseball

Port of Gulfport employee Cy Rushing has been playing baseball since he was 4 and always dreamed of playing professionally. Now, he’ll finally get his chance.  
In January, Rushing got a call about playing for the Dublin Leprechauns in San Francisco. He starts spring training on May 11 in San Diego, and the three-month season begins May 26. He will play first base but also will serve as a utility player on the team. 
“I feel like it really won’t sink in until I get there,” he said, adding that h...

Nancy Penn: A Visionary Behind the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank's 40-Year Journey

In 1984, the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank was born out of necessity. Baton Rouge was reeling from an economic downturn that left many families struggling to afford basic necessities. Amid this crisis, Nancy Penn, then serving as the Episcopal Hunger Coordinator, stepped forward with a vision to address hunger in her community. Her efforts, alongside a coalition of local leaders and organizations, laid the foundation for what would become a vital resource for thousands of individuals in need.

T...

New Website Enhancements Eases the Way for People to Find Help

The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank is proud to announce the launch of a completely new website at brfoodbank.org. With a whole new look and interface designed specifically with you in mind, you can choose your experience on accessing information to find food, volunteering, and becoming a donor.

Our new website is not only a resource for clients, volunteers, and donors, but is also a visual representation of all the components that take place inside and outside our warehouse. Website visitors can...

The Way of the Shepherd | Nourishing Those In Need

Shepherd’s Market, as its name suggests, provides food to those in need and follows the three responsibilities of the Shepherd: lead by offering guidance, make sure those under its care are fed, nourished, and nurtured, and tend to those who need to be restored to fullness of health.

The shepherd’s second and arguably the most important responsibility is to make sure those under its care are fed, nourished, and nurtured. This is in full force at Shepherd’s Market, a client choice pantry where c...

A New Spirit Changing Hearts in Baton Rouge

Tucked away amongst the mighty oak trees along Sharp Road in Baton Rouge, sits The New Ruach Church. Its purpose is in its name: “Ruach”. A Hebrew word directly from Ezekiel that can mean “spirit”, “wind”, or “breath”. In these verses, God tells Ezekiel that he is going to give us a new “Ruach”; a new spirit to change our hearts of stone to hearts that are attentive.

Pastor Maria Quintero Edwards lends her attentive heart to The New Ruach Church pantry so that it stands ready to provide food fo...

Corporate Volunteer Spotlight: ExxonMobil

A few times throughout the year at the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, our parking lot overflows with cars, the board room is packed with people, and there is an ocean of matching shirts throughout our warehouse. That’s when you know the ExxonMobil volunteer team has shown up to volunteer – sorting and packing food boxes for children, seniors, and families in need.

They mean business because they know people need food. Our mission to feed the food insecure in our community becomes the ExxonMobil...

Serving With A Purpose

Tucked away in the city of Baton Rouge stands the Datta Temple. Established in 1997 under the guidance of Sri Ganapathi Sachchidanda Swamiji, it is fully staffed by a full-time priest who is trained in the ancient ways of Hinduism as it is practiced in India. The temple was the first of its kind in the United States.

Recently, Sri Swamiji arrived in Baton Rouge from India to celebrate his 80th birthday and the 25th anniversary of the temple. Michael G. Manning, President and CEO of the Greater...

Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank Acts on Jif Peanut Butter Recall

With the recently announced recall of Jif peanut butter, the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank is taking precautions by checking our inventory of Jif peanut butter following the recent recall over concerns about salmonella contamination. The lot numbers included in the recall have been removed from our inventory.

Peanut butter is a versatile food rich in protein making it a popular item at the Food Bank where there is plenty on hand. A food recall during continued supply chain issues adds barriers...

18 Million Employees Work for Companies with Matching Gift Programs

At the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, every dollar counts. Corporate employee matching gifts offer the opportunity to turn one dollar by a match-eligible employee into two, three, four, or even five dollars. Our new Double Your Donation feature on the Food Bank website provides a convenient way for you to find out if your company may match your donation.

Closing the Loop of Hunger

Everyone is an artist. Some use numbers in a spreadsheet, some creatively solve problems, and some paint on walls like muralist Ellen Ogden. You may have seen her work in regional Trader Joe’s stores or perhaps somewhere in or around Baton Rouge. No matter where you find her vibrant artwork, you will notice it has become part of the environment in which it lives, echoing the energy from the space from which it was created. Ellen has become known as a masterful muralist with her larger than life...

Increasing Information Accessibility

According to the United State Census Bureau, 8.3% of the people in West Feliciana Parish and as many as 20.2% of the people in Pointe Coupee Parish ages 65 or younger live with a disability. Little information is available in accessible formats, and many communication needs of people with disabilities are left unmet.

The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank wants to provide accessibility to everyone. As part of our efforts to make information accessible to all, we have added the Recite Me tool on our...

Food Bank App to Greatly Expand Services

Food insecurity impacts people from all walks of life—especially those who may not be able to afford a computer or broadband internet at home despite living in a digital world. Because mobile phones are easy to obtain, mobile apps have become an important avenue for providing information to individuals in need.

The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank with the support of b1BANK has launched an app to increase access to food resources for those who may only have a cell phone. The app provides informati...