Creating a Vibrant and Diverse Coastal Community Where All Can Thrive! | | |
Rebuild the Bayou Completes 57th
New Home Build
| | The past three months have been buzzing with home repair and new home construction activity as well as extra-special home dedications! We've welcomed three families to new homes in Houma, Gray and Thibodaux since January, with a fourth now under construction in Houma. Add to this list 24 full home restorations and repairs this season alone, and Rebuild the Bayou has welcomed 600 households home since 2021 - all through the incredible power of volunteers and philanthropy! | | | | |
For 20 years, Joyce, a hardworking mom, saved what she could to repair and maintain her mobile home in Thibodaux until Hurricanes Ida and Francine damaged it so severely, it was unlivable.
She applied to Bayou Community Foundation's Rebuild the Bayou program for assistance, and with the incredible help from our volunteer building partners from Christian Aid Ministries, she unlocked the door to her new home and new life on April 8! Her house is the 57th new build completed by Rebuild the Bayou since 2021.
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Like Joyce, TiReElle and her children celebrated a life-changing moment in March when they received keys to a new safe and storm-resilient "forever home" in Gray.
TiReElle and her children had been living in their unsafe mobile home damaged by Hurricanes Ida and Francine for nearly five years, as she continued to look everywhere for help with repairs. After hearing, “No,” far too many times, BCF and Christian Aid Ministries said, “Yes,” and not just to repair her severely damaged home, but “Yes” to building a new home and a new start in life for this young family!
| | In addition to these new home builds, BCF's Rebuild the Bayou volunteer building partners Christian Aid Ministries also completed five full home restorations this spring for families in Houma, Raceland and Thibodaux, like Ann and Nester Antoine and Hellen Ruffin pictured below. | | Cheers to our Volunteers! | | | | |
On April 7, our Bayou Community Foundation family and our friends from Christian Aid Ministries gathered for a delicious Cajun shrimp boil in thanks for the CAM volunteers' generous contributions of time and talent to our Rebuild the Bayou program.
After a day of hard work repairing homes, volunteers were able to enjoy a relaxing evening of food and fun.
| | Thank you to BCF Chair Henry Lafont and wife Kim for hosting this special dinner and fun evening of fellowship! | | BCF Hosts Special Partner Visits | | BCF Welcomes The Gheens Foundation to the Bayou | | Red Cross and CDP Partners Tour Rebuild the Bayou Projects | | |
In March, Bayou Community Foundation welcomed representatives from the American Red Cross and the Center for Disaster Resiliency to Terrebonne and Lafourche to tour Rebuild the Bayou projects and meet the homeowners whose lives are being impacted by this work.
BCF is so grateful for the continued partnership of both Red Cross and CDP and their funding support to help us rebuild homes and a stronger, more resilient community.
| | Fighting Hunger Is a Team Effort! | | BCF Awards Grants from Second Harvest Bayou Fund for Equipment at Local Food Banks | | BCF's Working Group on Hunger Provides Important Information and Training Session | | | | |
On March 10, Bayou Community Foundation's Working Group on Hunger met at Hope Church in Galliano for a special information-sharing session with representatives from Second Harvest Food Bank and the USDA, providing updates and training for local food distribution sites.
BCF's Working Group on Hunger is a collaboration with local food banks, pantries, nonprofits and government agencies to address the critical issue of food insecurity in our community.
To learn more about BCF’s Working Group on Hunger or join our contact list, please contact us at 985-219-0048 or email Kati@BayouCF.org.
| | Local Nonprofits Learn How to "Build Better Boards" at BCF Workshop | | | | |
On March 13, over 25 Board Members and nonprofit leaders from all across the Bayou Region came together for Bayou Community Foundation's Building Better Boards workshop with a shared commitment to building stronger organizations.
From strengthening governance to sharing real world insights, the energy in the room was inspiring! A big thank you to Dr. Beverly Brooks Thompson and Carey Lawson of LSUS for guiding such a meaningful and impactful workshop.
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BCF President/CEO Honored as
2026 Athena Award Nominee
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Bayou Community Foundation proudly celebrates President and CEO Jennifer Armand on her nomination for the 2026 ATHENA Award, presented by the Women’s Business Alliance of the Bayou Region.
Our team was thrilled to show up “Pretty in Pink” at the Athena Banquet on March 26 in support of Jennifer and all the well-deserving nominees.
We also extend our congratulations to ATHENA Award winner Mary Lynn Bisland, Executive Director of Terrebonne Arc in Houma for her outstanding service to our community.
| | Out and About with BCF Staff | | Volunteer Louisiana Disaster Summit Prepares Nonprofits Working in Response and Recovery | | |
In March, Bayou Community Foundation staff joined statewide leaders at the 2026 Volunteer Louisiana Disaster Summit to strengthen disaster response through collaboration, volunteer coordination, and data-driven recovery.
Presentations and discussions reinforce the importance of BCF’s role in connecting partners and resources after disasters and align with BCF's ANCHOR the Bayou program to build resiliency in South Lafourche and Terrebonne.
| | BCF Staff Shares BayouHelp.org with Unitech Training Academy | | BCF Donors Are Community Champions! | | Entergy Contributes $10,000 to B.I.G. Legacy Fund | | | | |
Thank you, Entergy for a generous $10,000 investment in Bayou Community Foundation’s B.I.G. Legacy Fund.
Through this fund, local students selected by the Bayou Industrial Group and South Central Industrial Association scholarship program receive support to attend Nicholls State University and Fletcher Technical Community College.
With the April 24 deadline approaching, we encourage eligible students to apply and take the next step toward their future. Apply for the BIG/SCIA scholarships HERE.
| | Synergy Bank Employees Support BCF with Jean Day Fundraiser | | Bayou Community Foundation was honored to receive a generous donation from Synergy Bank employees through their recent Jeans Day fundraiser. Thank you for your generosity and continued commitment to Grow Good with us! | | |
Stay Up-to-Date on all BCF news by following us on social media and
viewing our NEW BCF EVENT CALENDAR.
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