The Sankofa Lower Nine Fresh Food Pantry offers three food and meal assistance programs to households in need. All three programs are designed to help individuals and households achieve or maintain food security and access to nutritious foods.
Through a partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank, we are able to operate a food pantry that is open to all households in Louisiana. Each week we stock our shelves with a variety of fresh, frozen, canned, and staple foods. A typical pantry box contains fresh fruit (apples, oranges and seasonal fruit), frozen fruit or vegetables, eggs, cheese, canned vegetables, dried beans and peas, pasta, and rice. We receive items every week and no two weeks are the same. On occasion, we also provide fresh produce grown in our community gardens!
How to Apply for Food Pantry Assistance
To be eligible to access the food pantry, households must meet income guidelines.
Applications are available at Sankofa and by clicking here for English. Applicants should fill out the form, print, and then bring to the Sankofa office or email to pantry @ sankofanola.org.
Las aplicaciones están disponibles en Español. Clientes necesitan que llenar la hoja y traerla a la oficina en Sankofa.
How to Apply for the Senior Commodity Box
Residents over the age of 60 can enroll in the Catholic Charities Senior Commodity Box through Sankofa. This is a monthly, pre-packed box of dry items like cereal, rice, pasta, dried beans and peas, canned fruit, and shelf-stable milk. To be eligible, individuals must be over the age of 60 and meet income guidelines. Applications are available at Sankofa and by clicking here.
Applications for all programs are accepted during pantry hours: Monday and Wednesday from 9am-2pm.
Location
Fresh Start Market
5029 St. Claude Avenue
When
Open Monday and Wednesday
9am – 2pm
Sign up for SNAP Benefits
Eligibility Guidelines
All applicants must meet household income guidelines and be an Orleans Parish resident. Proof of income, ID, and address are required for all household members who are 20 and above.
To Sign Up for SNAP
Applicants must email cheryl@sankofanola.org or call Ms. Cheryl at (504) 381-5690 for a SNAP registration appointment.
Applicants must come in person to the Fresh Start Market, 5029 St. Claude Avenue for their appointment.
“I live in a senior building and everybody over there comes here. Thank y’all very much.”
Carol Ratteef
“These people are very nice and the food that I get is very filling for my household.”
Celine Jupiter
“Coming to the food pantry helps me out a lot because I bring a lot of people here that don’t have anything to eat.”
Deborah Pinkney
“My thanks to Sankofa CDC and Second Harvest Food Bank. They have been very helpful to my family and others.”
Rayna Felton
“Y’all do a wonderful job by giving us food to support our family. And I appreciate y’all so much.”
Gwendolyn Jefferson
“They’re always thoughtful and helpful. I really appreciate all their help.”
Christine Bates
“I am very appreciative of this. It comes when it’s most needed. My family appreciates it, and thank you to everybody.”
Ione Berry