Hancock Whitney Pledges $40K Investment to Local Food Pantries

Hancock Whitney pledges contributions to Southwest Lousiaian food pantries as part of the bank’s COVID-19 community relief efforts to offer immediate help.

Lake Charles, LA (May 21, 2020)—Hancock Whitney—one of America’s strongest, safest banks—has pledged a $40,000 investment to local food pantries as part of the bank’s COVID-19 community relief efforts.

This announcement comes on the heels of Hancock Whitney committing $2.5 million to help people in some of the Gulf South’s most vulnerable neighborhoods during the COVID-19 pandemic. That investment helps stock local food pantries, provide cloth face masks to protect residents and first responders, fund community health centers, and aid in housing relief and legal services for individuals fighting illegal evictions in local communities across Hancock Whitney’s banking footprint.

“Our communities aren’t just places; they’re the people who make up the hearts of our hometowns,” said Hancock Whitney President and CEO John M. Hairston. “Together with the people we serve, we at Hancock Whitney celebrate in times of joy and support each another in times of challenges. We have very deep roots in the region we serve, and we hope this support serves as a reminder of all the good in our communities and the opportunities we can create together.”

Locally, the investment will support three organizations, including:

United Way of Southwest Louisiana

$20,000 to the United Way of Southwest Louisiana which will allow the organization to purchase food and distribute at additional sites. The organization leads the way in the fight for the health, education, and economic mobility of every person in the Lake Charles community. Their goal is to create long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place.

“Community support is what helps organizations like ours thrive in Southwest Louisiana,” shared United Way of Southwest Louisiana President and CEO Denise Durel. “With the financial generosity of businesses and organizations like Hancock Whitney, we have been able to truly rise up and fight against the painful social and economic impacts of coronavirus. This partnership exemplifies the mission of our organization.”

Care Help of Sulphur, Inc.

$10,000 to Care Help of Sulphur, Inc., will provide items such as meat, canned goods, breakfast items, as well as hygiene products and toilet paper for more than 500 households. The organization’s mission is to provide assistance to people in emergency situations.

“Hancock Whitney’s donation is helping us to purchase food for our Clients Choice Food Pantry,” said Jody Farnum, Executive Director of Care Help of Sulphur, Inc. “Before COVID-19, more than 500 households participated in our pantry program and visited us each month. Today, that number has increased, and we have seen a 30-40 percent increase in new clients.”

Greater St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church

$10,000 to Greater St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church will provide two meals per day to individuals in need for an estimated 1,500 meals.

“This very generous and timely donation from Hancock Whitney is another demonstration of the unselfish philanthropic spirit that is present in Southwest Louisiana,” shared Director Pauline Hurst. “Hancock Whitney has certainly given the largest single cash donation to our food distribution program, which will provide much needed food to financially stressed families during the COVID-19 pandemic”.

Hancock Whitney Market President Jim McGough said the bank’s $2.5 million investment in communities and other relief efforts comes at a critical time as the novel coronavirus continues to impact lives and livelihoods across Louisiana, the nation, and the global community.

“At Hancock Whitney, we recognized that one of the most immediate needs in our communities was access to nutritious meals,” said McGough. “In an effort to maximize funding, we partnered with three organizations with different service areas to ensure as many Southwest Louisianans have the opportunity to put food on the table.”

A special page at www.hancockwhitney.com/covid19 offers timely updates on Hancock Whitney’s locations and operations, resources, fraud prevention tips, and ongoing direct assistance available for people and businesses suffering financial impacts from the pandemic, including fee waivers, loan payment deferrals, and SBA loans.

About Hancock Whitney

Since the late 1800s, Hancock Whitney has embodied core values of Honor & Integrity, Strength & Stability, Commitment to Service, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility. Part of Hancock Whitney Corporation’s Gulf South financial services family, bank offices and financial centers in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas offer comprehensive financial products and services, including traditional and online banking; commercial and small business banking; private banking; trust and investment services; healthcare banking; certain insurance services; and mortgage services. The company also operates a loan production office in Nashville, Tennessee, as well as trust and asset management offices in New Jersey and New York. BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation’s leading independent bank rating and analysis firm, consistently recommends Hancock Whitney as one of America’s most financially sound banks. More information is available at www.hancockwhitney.com.

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