Welcome to our new Food Pantry Coordinator, Lorena Wever! For her new position, Lorena answered some questions about her new role and what she has seen at the Food Pantry as the need for food continues to grow due to COVID-19.
What has it meant to join Catholic Charities and the Food Pantry?
Working with CCANO is a way to put my faith and experience into practice by serving our clients. There are so many people in this community who need help. It’s rewarding to know that you can welcome them in, and you know that they are going to get the help they need.
What have you seen at the Food Pantry over the holiday season? An increase need?
During this part of the year, CCANO-Food Pantry is seeing an increase in the number of people needing help.
Holiday seasons often find our thoughts turning to those in need. Hunger is one of the most basic of needs we all must satisfy. Families and individuals living in hunger are looking for food during this 2020 season more than ever.
Food is a common expression of love and the CCANO-Food Pantry share that love with others during the holidays.
What have you enjoyed about being the Food Pantry coordinator?
I really enjoy working for and with the community. The CCANO-Food Panty is giving me the opportunity to grow as individual every day.
The primary mission of our pantry is supplementing a family’s food resources to increase their security.
The CCANO-Food Pantry is often the first interaction clients have with Catholic Charities. For some, it’s a one-time visit in a time of significant need. But for others who require greater support, we would love the pantry could serve as a welcoming place where they can begin addressing more complicated issues in their lives that led them to us in the first place.
I would like to see these types of opportunities grow. As the pantry’s new coordinator, I am eager to try out innovative ideas for serving the needs of the community. It’s a variety of ways CCANO-Food Pantry can impact the lives of our clients.
What do you enjoy most about helping those in need with the Food Pantry? Interactions with clients?
For me, food security is the foundation for everything. If you have that – by using the pantry if needed – you can think about getting a better job, helping your kids with homework, working on your relationships, etc. Without food security, everything is a much bigger struggle.
Every day, I speak with people that are forced to make the difficult choice between paying rent and having running water, or buying food for the family and keeping the lights on. These sacrifices are more common than you’d think. For many, affording monthly expenses is a constant challenge.
The financial impact of COVID-19 has been devastating. As the pandemic continues, we are committed to ensuring everyone has the food they need during this difficult time. CCANO-Food Pantry are on the front lines to bring food where it is needed most.
CCANO-Food Pantry is serving residents of neighborhoods in New Orleans and around. We are providing prepackaged bags of food. Clients can receive service once every 30 days for a period of 3 months.
While many food pantries are only open once or twice a week, we are open Monday through Thursday, 10 am to 2 pm to meet the needs of our neighbors experiencing food insecurity. (The only exceptions are major holidays).
Pantry clients include the working poor, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. Since May 2020, CCANO-Food Pantry will serve more than 6300 individuals this year.
The Food pantry is located at 2505 Maine Avenue in Metairie.
The Food Pantry is open Mondays-Thursdays, 10AM -2PM.
Anyone can visit the Food pantry.
You can visit the food pantry once a month.