This was the ninth “Feed the Fleet” since the first hurricane struck two years ago. Partnering with Polly Glover was State Representative Joseph Orgeron, who represents District 54, which includes Golden Meadows. Photo: Photo: Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News
by Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News Editor
The cold north wind blew through the open Oak Ridge Community Park shelter in Golden Meadow like an express train passing a through a station. A sweater-clad chef stirred a huge pot of gumbo, while others wearing red aprons with the familiar Shell logo served fried catfish and French fries. At a table at the end, King Cakes anchored a paper tablecloth whipping in the constant breeze. But it was the smiles of the fishermen filling their plates that would be most remembered by the volunteers from across Louisiana.
Part of the Golden Meadows’ shrimp fleet along Bayou Lafourche. Photo: Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News
“Feed the Fleet”, the brainchild of retired school teacher Polly Glover of Ascension Parish, has for more than two years provided hot meals for fisherman affected by the four hurricanes and two tropical storms that have ravished the seafood industry.
Glover chose to take on the task of feeding the less fortunate after Hurricane Laura came ashore in Cameron Parish in 2020. She says she was friends with most of the fishermen over there. The Gulf fishing fleet docked at Cameron bore the brunt of Hurricane Laura, a category four storm.
Samantha Carroll, executive director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and member of the Louisiana Fishing Community Recovery Coalition, is a chef with two restaurants in Baton Rouge. She prepared the gumbo for the event. Photo:Photo: Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News
“They needed a meal, so I decided that with my own money I was going to feed them because nobody else was. So I went over there and fed them with shrimp from Terrebonne that had been donated,” she told Gulf Seafood News. “Laura had come ashore, they didn’t have any vessels left. They needed a meal. My friends need to be taken care of.”
This was the ninth “Feed the Fleet” since the first hurricane struck two years ago. Partnering with her was State Representative Joseph Orgeron, who represents District 54, which includes Golden Meadows.
“More than five months after Hurricane Ida’s devastating effects rocked our community, it was heart warming to see caring volunteers come out to provide a delicious lunch to the commercial fishermen, shrimpers, and crabbers of Lower Lafourche and Grand Isle,” he said. “This event could not have happened without the expert volunteer organization of Ms. Polly Glover, the corporate support of Joe’s Septic & Shell along with their generous employees, and lastly, the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board.”
According to Samantha Carroll, executive director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and member of the Louisiana Fishing Community Recovery Coalition, Glover is very tied to the fishing community. “She is great at rallying everyone together. We have Shell, businesses that donated the King Cakes, the sausage and the drinks. She makes it all come together.”
“Hurricane Ida affected me all the way around. My boat went down in the hurricane; it had a hole in it and sunk. My house got destroyed. We are just being able to get on our feet,” said, Brad Duet, who operates a shrimp iceboat out of Golden Meadows. Photo: Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News
Carrol said you could tell that when she comes to these events the teacher in her comes out.
“She is good at directing, she loves to hug people. One of the events that touched my heart the most was at Christmas time in Dulac. She sat and read the children a story. The children, who had nothing in for Christmas, we given a bag and allowed to fill the with toys that had been donated.”
As fishermen and their families gathered in small groups in patches of sunlight to keep warm, the warm gumbo and even warmer friendship of the community brightened spirits.
LSU Sea Grant handed out clothing and information for the fishing community. Photo: Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News
“Hurricane Ida affected me all the way around. My boat went down in the hurricane; it had a hole in it and sunk. My house got destroyed. We are just being able to get on our feet,” said, Brad Duet, who operates a shrimp iceboat out of Golden Meadows. “We missed a bunch a shrimping time just getting my house back to where it is livable. We are eating a lot of fast food because we still don’t have a kitchen. Everybody down here is in the same situation, a lot worse than other.
“It is all about communities coming together, especially helping each other out when their back are against the wall a little bit. Between Katrina, Rita, Ida, Covid and all the storms in between you will find that we in Louisiana are a resilient community that comes together and helps each other out when we need it,” said Fred Palmer, Shell Oil’s State Government Relations Regional Manager and a member of the Louisiana Fishing Community Recovery Coalition, as he helped fellow Shell workers fry Catfish
“We in Louisiana are a resilient community that comes together and helps each other out when we need it,” said Fred Palmer, Shell Oil’s State Government Relations Regional Manager as he help fry catfish with his team. Photo: Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News
Julie Lively, director of LSU Sea Grant and member of the Louisiana Fishing Community Recovery Coalition, led a team in handing out clothing and information for the fishing community.
“When you come here you are hit with the reality of what the affect of Hurricane Ida has had on not only the fishermen, but the whole community,” she said. “You see house that aren’t housing anybody, fisherman worried about just giving their families a place to live, much less get on the water. It is heart wrenching.”
Gulf Seafood Foundation board member and member of the Louisiana Fishing Community Recovery Coalition, Jim Gossen appreciated the support of Lt. Billy Nungesser for helping make the event possible.
“I want to thank the Lt. Governor for providing the fish and shrimp, as well as helping promote this event,” said Gossen. “I lost my camp on Grand Isle to Ida, but I also lost a lot of contact with close friends. Events like this remind us that we are not alone. We are all part of a bigger community that takes care of each other.”
The former Ascension schoolteacher turned meal organizer, says that she would like to hold the next event in Lafitte, but then return to Cameron as quickly as possible.
“People forget that they are still in dire need over on the west part of the state,” she said. “I don’t want them to think we have forgotten them. It is unfortunate we have had four hurricanes and two tropical storms over the past two years. This industry is struggling everywhere.”
Glover felt the event went off very well. As she filled left over bags for fishermen to take home one, fisherman carrying away a bag of gumbo commented, “It was really nice of everyone, really nice.”
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