Bayou Community Foundation

06/04/2026

🎉Welcome home, Michael, Makayla and Amiracle!

#58 is Great! 🌟Today, we concluded our 5th Rebuild the Bayou program season in an extra-special way with a beautiful home dedication for Michael and his two daughters in downtown Houma. Their new storm-fortified home was built by our generous volunteers from Christian Aid Ministries and local tradesmen in only two months, and is the 58th new build completed in our Rebuild the Bayou program since our program began in Dulac following Hurricane Ida.

Michael grew up with his grandmother in the family’s previous home on this site. That home was severely damaged in Hurricanes Ida and Francine, leaving them with a collapsed and leaking roof, shifted foundation, and only one livable bedroom. But with limited resources and no opportunity for traditional housing recovery programs, Michael and his daughters made do with what they could, until they reached out to our Rebuild the Bayou program. Within two months, the family had temporary housing, the damaged home was demolished, and construction began, culminating in the beautiful homecoming celebration today. And to top it all off, our partners at American Red Cross funded furniture, appliances and household essentials to make this new house a home!

Since fall of 2021, Rebuild the Bayou has completed 613 projects for Lafourche, Terrebonne and Grand Isle families like Michael’s, including home repairs, full home restorations, new builds, and other housing solutions - all through the amazing power of philanthropy and volunteers. Oh, what a blessed and impactful journey it has been!

Thank you to all of our volunteers, partners, and our 2026 Funding Champions for helping us rebuild homes, lives and our community! The Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust, the American Red Cross, Capital One, The Callais Family Fund, K&B Industries, The Peltier Foundation, The Lorio Foundation, Louisiana Charities Trust, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. 🌿

06/03/2026

🎉CONGRATULATIONS🎉 Second Harvest Food Bank - Feeding South Louisiana on the grand opening of the new St. Elizabeth of Hungary Community Kitchen at the Bayou Warehouse in Houma! Members of our BCF Board and staff were so happy to celebrate with you today.

The new kitchen is an essential resource for our Bayou Region, preparing thousands of meals each day to support children's feeding programs, senior services, local food pantries and disaster response efforts. It’s also a hub of hope, helping ensure that local families in need have access to nutritious meals here at home. 🌿

06/02/2026

🎉 SAVE THE DATE! 🎉
Mark your calendars for BCF's 2026 Nonprofit Conference on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Fletcher Technical Community College.

This year's theme, "LEAD, GROW, INSPIRE!", will bring together nonprofit professionals, board members, volunteers and community leaders for a day of learning, collaboration and inspiration.

✨Stay tuned for speaker announcements, session details, registration information and more! Want to be the first to know? Subscribe to BCF's eNewsletter to receive the latest conference updates and announcements delivered directly to your inbox. 👉 Link in comments👇

This conference is POWERED by Louisiana Blue and the Louisiana Alliance for Nonprofits. 🌿

06/01/2026

Bayou Community Foundation releases ANCHOR the Bayou Strategic Plan.

Housing, education-to-career pathways, and mental health services are among the top priorities identified by residents to strengthen the resilience of South Lafourche and South Terrebonne communities, according to the ANCHOR the Bayou Strategic Plan released today. 👉To read the full plan, see link in comments👇 The Water Institute 🌿

05/28/2026

❤ ❤ We just love showing donors all the GOOD their Gifts are Growing! ❤ ❤

Kristyna Jones, representing Rebuild the Bayou funding partner Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), recently joined us on a “tour of homes” in Houma and Thibodaux, seeing homes repaired and built through a generous grant to BCF from the LISC Southern Rural Housing Initiative.

But the completed home repairs and beautiful new home under construction are only the beginning. Introducing Kristyna to homeowners and hurricane survivors Helen, Ann and Doris was truly the heart of the visit!

Thank you, LISC and all of our Rebuild the Bayou funding champions, for helping us bring residents like these special ladies home! 🌿

05/26/2026

We are thrilled to annouce our 2026 ANCHOR the Bayou Leadership Cohort:
Ali Cressonie Adams – Lafourche Parish Government Office of Community Action
Andi Sonnier – Nicholls State University
Bette Billiot – Dulac Community Center and Bayou Youth Leadership Project
Brandon Dion – United Houma Nation
Brien Pledger – Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government Councilman
Britney Bartell – Lafourche Parish Government Office of Community Action
Cassandra Billiot – Terrebonne Churches United Food Bank Foodbank and Pastor of Anchor Foursquare Church
D’Lynn Chiasson – Lafourche Parish Government Councilwoman, Director of Cut Off Youth Center
Debbie Cheramie – Educator and community volunteer
Ericka Wolfe – HAP Organization
Jade Bergeron – Pointe au Chien Indian Tribe
Julie Pellegrin – The Haven, Inc.
Katie Rousse – Galliano Elementary School
Katrina Billiot – Ochsner Bayou
Kyle Williams – Lafourche Concert and Events Club, Rotary Club of Golden Meadow
Leslie Pelotto – Fletcher Technical Community College
Margie Duplantis – Community volunteer
Maria Gros - Lady of the Sea General Hospital, Clinics and Pharmacies
Rebekah Quinn – Bayou Country Children's Museum
Scott Bynum – Bayou Civic Club, Greater Lafourche Port Commission
Stefanny Chaisson – Terrebonne Parish Library System
Tara Detiveaux – Hope Extreme

Twenty-two local residents have been selected to partner with BCF in strengthening long-term resilience efforts across South Lafourche and South Terrebonne.

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

05/21/2026

🎉🏡 Welcome Home, Jerome! 🏡🎉

A dedicated volunteer with Terrebonne General Health System, Jerome has spent years caring for and giving back to others in our community. Now, it’s our turn to care for him!

Through BCF’s Rebuild the Bayou Housing Recovery Program, our Christian Aid Ministries volunteer partners recently completed exterior repairs to his hurricane-damaged home in downtown Houma, ensuring he has a safe and secure house to call home once again.

Since the Fall of 2021, BCF’s Rebuild the Bayou Program has completed 600 home repairs, full restorations and new builds, helping residents like Jerome return home across Terrebonne, Lafourche and Grand Isle.

Thank you to our generous 2026 funding partners who make these new beginnings possible: The Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust, the American Red Cross, Capital One, The Callais Family Fund, K&B Industries, The Peltier Foundation, The Lorio Foundation, Louisiana Charities Trust, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. 🌿

05/20/2026

BCF was delighted to convene members of local family foundations, public foundations and companies today for valuable conversation and connections on community needs and nonprofit grant-making programs.

Each and every one of these generous souls, family members and colleagues are channeling their compassion into impact, helping to create a Terrebonne, Lafourche and Grand Isle community where ALL can THRIVE! More conversation and connections to come for our Bayou Grant Funders Group! 🌿
danos Danos Foundation Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana Woodside Energy Cenac Marine Services

05/19/2026

Today, BCF staff joined food bank and pantry leaders, volunteers, advocates and government officials from across the state for Feeding Louisiana’s Day at the Capitol.

Together, we helped bring awareness to the realities of food insecurity in our state and the importance of working collaboratively to meet the needs of our neighbors.

Through our Working Group on Hunger, BCF is committed to connecting partners, strengthening local efforts and helping improve food access throughout the Bayou Region. 👉To learn more about BCF’s Working Group on Hunger, click on the link in comments👇 🌿
Terrebonne Churches United Food Bank Second Harvest Food Bank - Feeding South Louisiana Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux