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(03/24/25) BATON ROUGE, La. — The LSU AgCenter Healthy Communities team will host the second Louisiana Charitable Food Summit on April 24 at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge.
This year’s theme, “Moving Forward Together,” highlights the importance of collaboration in addressing food insecurity. Makenzie Miller, AgCenter local food systems specialist, emphasized the impact of working together to support both those experiencing hunger and the organizations that serve them.
“This summit is an opportunity to address some of Louisiana’s most pressing food security challenges,” Miller said. “By uniting our efforts, we can move closer to solutions that ensure all residents have access to nutritious food.”
The summit will feature sessions on topics such as local food procurement, amplifying community voices and Food Is Medicine programs. Attendees also will have access to a resource fair, networking opportunities and quarterly follow-up calls to continue learning and sharing ideas.
The inaugural summit in 2023 drew nearly 150 participants and focused on topics like community gardens, online ordering systems and burnout prevention for service providers.
Louisiana has some of the highest food insecurity and obesity rates in the country. One in four children in Louisiana face hunger, and nearly half of households receiving SNAP benefits include at least one child, according to Feeding America.
“Ensuring access to nutritious food is essential for the health and well-being of our communities,” said Jordyn Mancuso, vice president of impact at the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. “This summit provides valuable strategies and resources to help tackle food insecurity and create lasting change for Louisiana residents.”
The event is free to attend, with breakfast, lunch and refreshments provided. Registration is available at https://bit.ly/LACFS2025.
The summit is hosted by the AgCenter Healthy Communities with support from the AgCenter’s SNAP-Ed and High Obesity Program (HOP), Market Umbrella, Second Harvest Food Bank, Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Community Center of St. Bernard, Christian Community Action and Holistic Vibes.
Healthy Communities is an initiative that makes Louisiana towns healthier places to live, work, learn, pray and play by working with community partners and local residents to prioritize key issues and develop solutions. The initiative focuses on ensuring that healthy food and physical activity are safe, accessible and enjoyable for all residents.
For more information about the Louisiana Charitable Food Summit, contact Miller at makenziemiller@agcenter.lsu.edu or 225-578-4565.
2023 Louisiana Charitable Food Summit attendees networking during the opening session. Photo by Ruthie Losavio/LSU AgCenter
The 2023 summit featured exhibitors from a variety of organizations, including the LSU and SU ag centers, local nonprofits and managed care organizations. Photo by Ruthie Losavio/LSU AgCenter
