La. Farm Bureau Hands Out 700 Meals in Lake Charles
By Avery Davidson
The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture
La. Farm Bureau Secretary/Treasurer Mike Melancon checks the grill used to cook 500 hamburgers in Calcasieu Parish.
Lake Charles, La. — There’s no electricity. Some residents have no running water. Fast food restaurants are not yet open. However, hot hamburgers and jambalaya lunches were available to anyone and everyone at the Calcasieu Parish Farm Bureau Office.
On Thursday, September 3, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation volunteers from across the state joined with agents, adjusters and employees of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance Companies who were giving their time to cook and serve lunches to people affected by Hurricane Laura.
“We got hit pretty hard,” said Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance Agency Manager Kurt Coleman. “This was my first hurricane down here. I wasn’t here for Rita, but I’ve had several people who were here for Rita tell me the damage seems to be worse this time than it was for Rita.”
Because of that extensive damage, the men and women cooking and serving the lunches knew there was a need, and that they would be feeding their own friends and neighbors. The combined crews cooked 500 hamburgers and 200 plates of chicken and sausage jambalaya.
La. Farm Bureau Field Services Director Tim Payne prepares lunches for those affected by Hurricane Laura at the Calcasieu Parish Farm Bureau office.
“It’s good to let our members and this community know the Farm Bureau is here to help them any way they can,” said Louisiana Farm Bureau President Jim Harper. “We’re all thinking about you. We’re here to help you and the whole community is with you. If the Farm Bureau Federation can help any of these farmers in this area, contact us and we’ll do what we can.”
Organizers said this will not be the only time they cook for those affected by Hurricane Laura. Future cookouts are already in the works for the coming weeks.
“We pride ourselves on being a part of the community every day,” said Louisiana Farm Bureau Secretary/Treasurer Mike Melancon. “It’s just the culture of our area and we’re doing this work whenever we possibly can.”