Allstate Agency Owners Earn $10K to Fight Hunger

NEW ORLEANS, October 9, 2018 – New Orleans-area Allstate agency owners recently joined Allstate volunteers across seven states to secure a $10,000 Allstate Foundation Helping Hands® grant to benefit 10 Feeding America member food banks, including Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana.

Allstate volunteers collected monetary donations during an online virtual food drive in April to enable Feeding America food bank members to support local families in need. Every $1 donated during the online virtual food drive will help provide at least four meals secured by Second Harvest on behalf of local member food banks. Replenishing local food banks also allows rapid response during a natural disaster, which can leave community members without shelter, power and access to safe food and water.

Allstate agency owners also volunteered by packing disaster relief boxes at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana. Their efforts will help provide supplies that can be distributed the moment a South Louisiana community faces disaster-related damage.

The online virtual food drive and hands-on volunteer activity were part of a multi-state Allstate Foundation volunteer effort benefitting Feeding America member food banks in California, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina and Texas. In all, $136,000 was donated through Allstate Foundation Helping Hands® grants.

"Following the devastating aftermath of hurricanes and wildfires at the end of last year, Feeding America’s disaster resources have been significantly depleted,” said Allison May, Allstate corporate relations division manager. “Feeding America serves one in seven Americans and we are so proud of our local Allstate volunteers for stepping up to replenish food supplies, raise funds and strengthen Feeding America’s ability to deliver critical emergency relief to communities in need.”

Participating New Orleans-area Allstate agency owner volunteers include (in alphabetical order by last name):

• Kelly Buckwalter, Destrehan
• John Chappetta, Metairie
• Richard Elliott, Gretna
• Christopher Lemon, Metairie
• Lisa Matherne, Gretna
• Derek Mcdonald, Slidell
• Elliott Raley, Harvey
• Lindsey Titman, Gretna
• Lindsay Vedros, Metairie
• Stephen Waters, Harvey

Since 2011, Allstate and The Allstate Foundation have contributed more than $2.5 million to Feeding America to support its disaster preparedness and relief programs.

The Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana is one of thousands of organizations this year to receive Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grants secured by Allstate agency owners and financial specialists for their volunteer efforts. The grants support organizations addressing domestic violence, youth empowerment, disaster preparedness, hunger and other causes.

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