The non-profit organization It Takes a Village in Baton Rouge is hosting the last edition on March 26th

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – A non-profit organization that has been helping the Baton Rouge community for more than seven years is officially closing its doors.

“I wish she could have stayed open about what she’s done for the community,” said Anthony Jackson, a patron of It takes a village.

Aside from giving people like Anthony Jackson a job and a home, It Takes a Village is known for providing food, clothes and even haircuts to the homeless every Sunday. It’s a tradition that started in 2015.

“She gave away a lot of stuff. Clothing, baby items, food, you know, helping them. She comes and she cooks and she prepares food for her,” Jackson said.

Executive Director, Tiffany Simpson, agreed, saying, “We’ve been here every week since we started.”

The head of the agency wanted to put the homeless in a different light and change the perception of homelessness.

But now It Takes a Village will close its doors due to lack of resources. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has struggled and still has not recovered.

Simpson said: “Since the pandemic, it’s been really, really hard for us to find new volunteers who are committed and come frequently.”

She also said that although they are closing, they will find other ways to give back to the community.

“I’m going to be under a tree in the church with the community fridges to see how we can help them, to help them continue to try to bridge the gap,” Simpson said.

The final serving will take place on March 26, and the nonprofit plans to make it an even bigger event than usual. Click Here Information about volunteering or donations.