A new program in the City of New Orleans aims to provide more than 30,000 residents a free meal every day, while also helping the City’s struggling restaurant industry. The program is the brainchild of City Officials and the Greater New Orleans Foundation.
The hope, is that the program will get food to those in need, while giving restaurants some much needed stability, and at the same time reduce the crushing strain on local food banks. The program currently has $18 million dollars allocated, with 75% being funded by FEMA, and the remainder being funded by the City of New Orleans. The program is currently slated to last for 30 days.
As with all programs, there are some limitations as to who qualifies. Among them is a federal eligibility requirement that those on SNAP do not qualify (at least during the first phase those this may change). Additionally, the program is targeted at those under 18, over 65, at high risk for COVID, or those that have had the disease.
Restaurants participating in the program include: Ba Mein Vietnamese, Boucherie, Frankie & Johnny’s, Dunbars, and Diva Dog.
If you or someone you know might qualify, you can call 311 and speak with someone who will walk you through the process, or you can go to https://nola311.org/service-request/ (select Covid-19 under request type). Hoping everyone is staying safe and healthy.
