For Chef Isaac and Amanda Toups, food has always been about more than what’s on the plate—it’s about people, community, and making sure no one goes hungry. That’s the heart behind Toups Family Meal (TFM), the couple’s nonprofit dedicated to fighting food insecurity in New Orleans. And this Easter, they’re doubling down on that mission with their second annual Easter Drive on Good Friday, April 18. The goal? They want to create a citywide effort to put home-cooked holiday meals on the tables of families who need them most.
{Photo Credit Denny Culbert}
The program TFM put together this year is called “Doing Good on Good Friday,” and the goal is simple: 2,000 grocery boxes, 2,000 families, one shared Easter meal.
Inside each box, families will find everything they need for a classic, comforting Easter dinner—a whole chicken, potatoes, butter, milk, collard greens, bread, and dessert. It’s not just about feeding people; it’s about giving them the ingredients (literally and figuratively) to gather, cook, and share a holiday meal together.
{Photo Credit Denny Culbert}
How to Help
To pull this event off, Isaac and Amanda are calling on the community—because no good meal happens alone.
They need donations to keep the effort growing and volunteers to help deliver meals across the city. If you want to lend a hand, here’s how:
Donate to help fund more grocery boxes. Every bit helps. Volunteer as a driver to deliver meals to families. Spread the word—follow @toupsfamilymeal and share the cause.
When & Where
The Easter Drive kicks off at 3 PM on Friday, April 18, at the Toups Family Meal distribution facility (845 North Carrollton Avenue). From there, a fleet of volunteers will fan out across the city, making sure those Easter boxes get where they need to go.
It’s food, family, and New Orleans at its best—the way Isaac and Amanda have always believed it should be.
To learn more about Toups Family Meal and to donate, please visit https://toupsfamilymeal.com!
To read more about Chef Isaac Toups
Recipes by Chef Isaac Toups
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for all the newest recipes, interviews, and more!
Eric Olsson is the food blogger of RedBeansAndEric.com. He publishes new recipes and interviews weekly. He has developed recipes and written articles for the famous Camellia brand in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has been mentioned in Louisiana Cookin‘ magazine and has had recipes featured in Taste of Home magazine – with his Creole Turkey recipe being runner up in their annual Thanksgiving recipe contest. He lives outside of Detroit, Michigan, with his wife and four children.
Leave a Reply