Denny Culbert, courtesy of Toups Family Meal
Isaac and Amanda Toups
When the pandemic forced restaurants to shutter dine-in service, husband-and-wife team Isaac and Amanda Toups of Toups Meatery in Mid-City New Orleans started packaging “family meals” (the staff meal many restaurants partake in before service) for their employees to take home. Before they knew it, the operation grew to the point where they were feeding 500 people a day. In eighteen months, the Toups had distributed almost 100,000 boxed meals to community members looking for a good meal and a little comfort, before wrapping up the program. However, this year, he Toups cranked up the stoves once again to serve students without access to regular meals in the summer months. Last summer, they delivered 70,500 meals, and plan to do it again this year. While largely self-funded, Family Meal is also seeking donations to help it meet the costs of delivering weekly meals to over 500 students. toupsfamilymeal.com.
