Creating a Vibrant and Diverse Coastal Community Where All Can Thrive! | | Rebuild the Bayou Brings Mrs. Doris Home! | | “I AM BLESSED… I LOVE YOU ALL.” — Mrs. Doris |
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On April 23, Bayou Community Foundation welcomed Mrs. Doris back to her newly restored home in Thibodaux and celebrated the love for our neighbors that makes beautiful homecomings like this possible.
Hurricanes Ida and Francine severely damaged the roof, walls and floors of Mrs. Doris’ house, creating holes that allowed rodents and pests to enter. She spent two nights there and realized she couldn’t stay any longer, praying for help for nearly five years to go home again.
What a blessing for us all that she connected with our Rebuild the Bayou program!
In three weeks, BCF and our generous and talented rebuilding volunteers from Christian Aid Ministries completed repairs to her house and fully furnished it, giving her a safe, secure and sanitary home once again.
| | A Ramp Can Work Miracles! | | |
Just ask Tammy, a Thibodaux resident who suffers from debilitating arthritis in both knees and couldn’t safely navigate unstable stairs at her front door.
“This ramp is an extension of my life. I can move freely in and out of my home now. Thank you all so much. I love it!” she says.
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Over the past five years, Bayou Community Foundation and our volunteer rebuilding partners have had the opportunity to help several Lafourche and Terrebonne hurricane survivors move safely in and out of their homes with the construction of sturdy and secure ramps as we make storm repairs on their homes.
This includes our longest structure - an 81-foot ramp recently completed for Kirk in Cut Off.
Accessing your home shouldn’t be a challenge and we are delighted to be able to provide this life-changing housing solution to neighbors in need as part of our Rebuild the Bayou housing recovery program.
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Since December, Christian Aid Ministries volunteers from around the U.S. and Canada have generously shared their time, talent and JOY with us and 21 local families, repairing and rebuilding homes for our neighbors still struggling with housing since Hurricane Ida and Francine.
With nearly 10,000 volunteer hours logged at a value of $300,000, they have completed four new builds and 17 home restorations with us this season. What a blessing their contributions to our Rebuild the Bayou program have been to Lafourche and Terrebonne residents from Raceland to Thibodaux and from Houma to Gibson!
| | | | Since Fall 2021, BCF’s Rebuild the Bayou Program has completed 600 housing recovery projects, including 58 new builds, providing safe and secure homes for residents like Doris, Tammy and Kirk in Terrebonne, Lafourche and Grand Isle. | | |
BCF Annouces
ANCHOR the Bayou Leadership Cohort
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On April 28, a team of 22 local residents gathered at the Terrebonne Parish Library South Regional Branch for the first of five meetings to dive deeper into the challenges facing residents of South Lafourche and South Terrebonne.
These challenges included housing and community spaces, as well as the community assets that strengthen our area like family and cultural traditions.
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By August, the ANCHOR Cohort members will help Bayou Community Foundation and The Water Institute of the Gulf develop at least two pilot projects that will be launched to increase social resilience in our unique and precious southern bayou communities.
ANCHOR the Bayou is BCF’s grassroots initiative in partnership with The Water Institute to listen, learn and respond to challenges and opportunities in South Lafourche and South Terrebonne to build a resilient community where all can thrive for decades to come.
To read the full news release and cohort member list, click HERE
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BCF Staff Presents ANCHOR the Bayou at
2026 Gulf Conference
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CEO Jennifer Armand and Program Manager Elizabeth Daigle were honored to participate in the Gulf of America Alliance's 2026 Gulf Conference in Mobile.
In Elizabeth's presentation, "Centering Community Voices in Coastal Resilience," she reviewed Bayou Community Foundation's ANCHOR the Bayou community-lead project to build resilience in South Lafourche and South Terrebonne.
Jennifer joined a panel of speakers from Gulf coast community organizations to discuss the power of partnerships in resilience efforts, such as Bayou Community Foundation's Rebuild the Bayou and ANCHOR initiatives.
Thank you to our partners at the Coastal Resilience Center of the The Water Institute for the invitation to speak and for connecting us to so many colleagues doing great resilience work along the Gulf!
| | BCF Launches Bayou Grant Funders Group | |
Bayou Community Foundation 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!
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On May 12, BCF staff was excited to attend the open house for The P.A.C.T. Place in Lockport, a space dedicated to protecting children and supporting families through some of life’s most difficult moments.
Since 2017, Bayou Community Foundation has awarded grants totaling over $57,000 to Friends of P.A.C.T. Place to fund free, supervised visitation and monitored exchanges here in a safe, secure and child friendly environment for families impacted by domestic violence, abuse and related trauma.
We are so grateful to see this incredible resource continuing to grow and serve our community with compassion, dignity, and care.
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| Second Harvest Bayou's "Makin' Groceries" Mobile Market | | |
On May 13, Bayou Community Founation staff joined our partners at Second Harvest Food Bank’s inaugural "Makin’ Groceries" Mobile Market in Houma, where fresh produce, dairy, eggs and more are helping families across our region access nutritious food close to home.
The "Makin’ Groceries" Mobile Market will continue to take place the second Wednesday of every month from 11 AM - 1 PM in the parking lot of Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center, located at 1978 Industrial Blvd.
Since 2015, Bayou Community Foundation has granted $165,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank to support hunger relief efforts throughout the Bayou Region.
| | Out and About with BCF Staff | | Resilient Partnership Catalyst Event at Tulane University | | Morganza Action Coalition & LA 1 Coalition Stakeholder Update | | Executive Director Henri Boulet presented updates on two critical projects protecting Terrebonne and Lafourche residents and businesses, and ensuring access to America’s working coast - the Morganza to the Gulf levee, lock and floodgate system, and the LA 1 Improvement Project. | | Thibodaux Chamber's GROW Conference | | LA Blue Foundation's Mental Health Partner Convening | | |
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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