NOLA Community Organizations Distribute Meals as Power Outages From Hurricane Zeta Continue

Five days after Hurricane Zeta made landfall in New Orleans, parts of the city and surrounding parishes remain without power, prompting a number of community organizations to plan food and meal distribution sites this week, from Monday, November 2 through Saturday, November 7.

At least a dozen community organizations are hosting multiple food distribution events throughout the week, including Culture Aid Nola, NOLA Tree Project, and the Broadmoor Improvement Association, all organizations that have been key players in the effort to feed New Orleanians throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Hurricane Zeta, which struck New Orleans and surrounding parishes with 110 mph winds on October 28, cut power to more than half a million people, according to WWL. While power was restored to much of New Orleans by the end of the weekend, more than 74,000 people across Southeast Louisiana remained without power as of Monday morning. Public schools in Orleans and Jefferson parishes are closed Monday because of outages, and normal food services canceled as a result. There are at least five food distribution sites planned for today, including a hot meal drive-thru at 2401 General Meyer Avenue beginning at noon. Ninth Ward community organization lowernine.org is distributing post-Zeta groceries tomorrow, November 3 at 5523 St. Claude Avenue.

For a list of community food and meal distribution sites scheduled for this week, please see the city’s list here. To find community charging stations coordinated by local mutual aid network Imagine Water Works, see here. And for information on the projects and organizations working to feed New Orleans during the COVID-19 health crisis and beyond, see Eater Nola’s guide on how to help.

UPDATE: Monday, November 2: New Orleans Public Schools has added two food pick up locations sites today, November 2, at Akili Academy (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Lycee Francais (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

Did we miss a community organization or restaurant helping feed people in the wake of Hurricane Zeta? Let us know.

• The Eater New Orleans Guide on How to Help During the Crisis [ENOLA]
• Several parishes cancel school Monday because of Hurricane Zeta’s power outages [WWL]