While in New Orleans for the AIA National Convention, HMC’s leaders gave back to the local community by volunteering at the Second Harvest Food Bank. Second Harvest distributes more than 19 million meals through a network of 240 non-profit member agencies and provides emergency food assistance to more than 263,000 people, including nearly 82,000 children and 40,000 seniors. During the hurricane Katrina crisis, they became the largest food bank in the world, working together with Feeding America, and skilled food bank volunteers from all over the country.

HMC assisted in two ways on Saturday, May 14: they helped build and plant vertical planters that will not only supply fresh herbs and vegetables, but will also provide an opportunity for Second Harvest recipients to learn how to grow and harvest on their own.

They also assembled donations for the Backpack Program, which provides backpacks of food for students with chronic hunger risk during non-school times. Backpacks are stocked with 10-12 nutritious, child-friendly, easy-to-prepare items from each of the food groups and are distributed discreetly on Fridays or the last day before a school break. Currently, 986 children at 13 schools are receiving backpacks weekly and funding is being sought to expand this program to the 48 schools on a waiting list throughout south Louisiana.