Discover How Zachary Food Pantry is Making a Difference for Local Families in Need

ZACHARY — Every Tuesday morning, a line of cars forms along Rollins Road, leading to the Zachary Food Pantry. This vital resource has been part of the community since June 10, 2013.

As drivers pull in, they are greeted by cheerful volunteers, some wearing bright yellow vests. Ron Usie, who has been volunteering for five years, is one of them. “I love helping out where I can,” he says.

Usie approaches each car with a clipboard, marking the windshields with numbers and asking about family size. This helps the pantry serve each family better. Inside the warehouse, other volunteers fill shopping carts with non-perishable goods like peanut butter and rice, and sometimes fresh produce and meat.

Mark Antoine, the pantry’s executive director for the last four years, reports they assist 200 to 300 families each month. “About a third of those are children,” he shares, emphasizing the pantry’s role in providing families with food that lasts several weeks.

The pantry runs on community support. Many volunteers come on Mondays to unload trucks from the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, which supplies most of the food. Others handle the office work, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

Residents contribute by filling donation barrels placed in churches and businesses around town. Antoine notes that the community is very active in keeping these barrels stocked.

Health workers, like Nurse Courtney Day from Lane Regional Medical Center, realize that meals are crucial for well-being. “We encounter many patients facing food insecurity,” she explains. The medical center holds food drives for the pantry three to four times a year, helping keep the shelves filled.

Despite the need growing, Antoine says the amount of food they can provide has gone down. Federal cuts to support programs for local food pantries have made things more difficult.

Yet, the pantry remains committed. “Every Tuesday from 9 to 11, we’re here for our neighbors,” Antoine assures. The Zachary Food Pantry continues to be a cornerstone in this tight-knit community.

According to Feeding America, in 2022, 35 million Americans experienced food insecurity. Programs like the Zachary Food Pantry highlight the growing need for local support systems in every community.

For more on food assistance or volunteering, visit the Zachary Food Pantry’s website or call 225-247-8859.

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