Lafayette Business Owner Encourages Others to Fill Community Fridge

A local business owner was in a store recently getting supplies for her own business when she overheard someone else needing assistance with food. It's a stark reality for many families in Acadiana.

Morgan Reed with Piece of Cake Lafayette spoke to her staff, and they decided they would purchase some items for one of the community refrigerators in town.

They purchased items and took them to the Lafayette Community Fridge at 2905 East Simcoe in Lafayette. As a community, we love to share with our neighbors so there are multiple community refrigerators and shelves around our city.

She's hoping that other local small businesses can donate as well if they can. If they have the funds, she's hoping other businesses will accept the challenge.

It's a terrible thing to comprehend; it is a fact that one in every five children in Louisiana struggles with hunger.

A community refrigerator or a community shelf allows people who have no transportation to put food on the table.

According to officials with the United Way around 32 percent of households in Acadiana are classified as ALICE households meaning they do earn pay above the Federal Poverty Level, BUT THEY STILL STRUGGLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND BASIC EXPENSES.

Many families struggle to pay for food, electricity, and other necessities. A graphic from CBS shows have many products have gone up in price since 2019.

It's scary to see how much some items have increased in price. To think we are paying 54% more for bread than we did just five years ago! The picture also shows that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, wages have gone up in some sectors of the economy, but it's mostly higher-wage earners, where does that leave middle and low-income families?

Investopedia shows how much inflation has gone up in recent years:

• In 2023, the average rate of inflation was 4.1%.
• In 2022, the average rate of inflation was 8.0%.
• In 2021, the average rate of inflation was 4.7%.
• In 2020, the average rate of inflation was 1.2%.

Things are tight for families in Acadiana, but some might have a little extra to share at food pantries and refrigerators.

Reed is challenging businesses that have a little extra to help stock the refrigerator and stock shelves. You can drop food off at the Lafayette Community Fridge at 2905 East Simcoe in Lafayette. It's located right at McMillan's Pub.

In most grocery stores you will see a basket where you can donate nonperishable food items. The items will go to FoodNet which helps to distribute them to needy families. You can also donate to Second Harvest Food Bank or through Catholic Charities of Acadiana, those are two examples of how to get donations to those in need.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you do go and donate to the refrigerator, at a local grocery store, or through one of the websites, we want you to tell us about it. Email us at bernie.lee@townsquaremedia.com.

Thank you to any business that is donating even if you choose not to tell us. If you are an individual who is donating, that is great as well. If you can't afford to donate, maybe say some prayers for those in need, please?