Providing 71,000 Meals Through Second Harvest Food Bank

NEW ORLEANS (July 7, 2010) – Last month, Chef Emeril Lagasse’s New Orleans restaurants served specialty cocktails to bring awareness to the fruits of our local waters and Louisiana’s vibrant fishing community. The effort raised $17,766 and reinforced Emeril’s commitment to support the fishing communities affected by the Gulf oil spill.

The month-long campaign donated $9 for every specialty cocktail sold at Emeril’s, NOLA and Emeril’s Delmonico to Second Harvest Food Bank’s fund for fishermen relief. The proceeds will provide direct assistance in the form of more than 71,000 meals for the community of shrimpers, oystermen and fishing families.

“Thank you to all of our guests who dined with us and took part in this campaign to help support our fishermen. These hard working individuals have dedicated their lives to the tradition of bringing the best fresh seafood to our tables,” said Emeril Lagasse. “It’s so important that we help preserve this culture and industry…this is just one small way we can help with the continuing needs and the ongoing recovery in these communities.”

Second Harvest, a member of Feeding America, has distributed approximately 1,750 emergency food boxes in St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes and New Orleans East. More than 200,000 meals have been distributed through Second Harvest member agencies and disaster relief sites in these areas.

Individuals in need of emergency food assistance can locate relief sites in their local communities by calling Second Harvest Food Bank at 504-734-1322 or visiting www.no-hunger.org.

For more information on Emeril’s restaurants visit emerils.com.

About Emeril Lagasse:
Chef Emeril Lagasse is the chef/proprietor of Emeril’s, NOLA, Emeril’s Delmonico and eight other restaurants across the country. Lagasse has spent the past thirty years building close relationships with farmers, fishermen, and ranchers, and his restaurants serve fresh, sustainable and organic products from farms in their area. In his latest book Farm to Fork: Cooking Local, Cooking Fresh (HarperStudio, $24.99), Emeril Lagasse shares his longtime love for fresh from-the-fields foods—and the heritage of the artisans who bring them to the table.

About Second Harvest Food Bank:
Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana is leading the fight against hunger in south Louisiana through food distribution, education, advocacy and disaster response. Annually, Second Harvest serves approximately 262,800 people through 240 nonprofit and faith-based agencies across 23 south Louisiana parishes – from the Mississippi border to the Texas state line.  In any given week, nearly 42,000 people access emergency food services through Second Harvest Food Bank member agencies. Second Harvest Food Bank is an affiliate corporation of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans and a member of Feeding America.  To learn more or donate food, money or time, please visit www.no-hunger.org.

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