From staff reports
L’Observateur

LUTCHER — Approximately 400 households in need surrounding Lutcher Park on the east bank of St. James Parish received food bags last week.

The Mosaic Company and St. James Parish Government sponsored the food distribution day.

Pre-packed Mosaic bags were passed out Thursday. Mosaic employees hand packed the bags on May 1 at the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.

Each bag contained a five to seven-pound hen, rice, gravy mix, green beans, mushroom soup, yams, peaches, macaroni and cheese, corn muffin mix, instant potatoes, brown sugar and brownie mix.

The effort was greatly aided by a donated tractor-trailer, which will play an integral role in food collection and distribution.

It has the ability to be divided into refrigerated and non-refrigerated sections to maximize efficiency of product transportation.

The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank fleet of trucks grew by one with its addition, which is its largest and most versatile tractor-trailer to date.

The truck was part of a donation made by The Mosaic Company.

The 53-foot tractor-trailer was unveiled at 9 a.m. Thursday in St. James Parish.

“Mosaic has been tremendously generous in support of our mission to fight hunger, and this donation will greatly improve our ability to do that across 11 parishes and especially in St. James Parish,” said Mike Manning, CEO and president of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.“This new tractor-trailer will allow us to pick up and distribute more product, both through regular distribution and Mobile Pantries, ultimately allowing us to get more food out into the community and into the hands of those in need.

Mosaic General Manager of Louisiana Operations Steve Susick said the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank is working to alleviate hunger through its programs, including mobile food pantries that provide fresh fruits and vegetables to those in need,

“Our partnership embodies the heart of Mosaic’s mission to help the world grow the food it needs,” Susick said.

“Locally, we are committed to closing the hunger gap in St. James Parish and the surrounding communities and ensuring access to fresh, healthy food.”

The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank works with more than 130 agencies to serve 11 parishes across central Louisiana.