The Gretna Food Bank located at 1400 Jefferson Street is so much more than a food pantry! You’ll find clothing, household items, jewelry, electronics, tools and much more. Plus, you will find friendly, devoted volunteers to help you!

Gretna Food Bank

The Gretna Food Bank is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. It is a “Cash Only” business, but the prices are so low that a little cash goes a long way. And the low prices mean a steady turnover of stock.

According to Gayle Pittman, president of the food bank, “We get donations from all over the New Orleans area and new items come in from Amazon weekly on Thursdays. We appreciated donations, but we can’t accept big furniture nor mattresses.

Gayle Pittman – GFB President

“We don’t cook here, but some of the volunteers, mostly Mo Brown, cook at home and bring in the food to feed the homeless. Volunteers will often make sweets or a treat.

“We are so thankful for Petals & Pastries, located at 628 4th Street here in Gretna who are repetitive donors.” Petals & Pastries is a unique business that combines a full-service florist with a bakery. They create delicious pastries, cakes and decorated sugar cookies, as well as beautiful flowers for any occasion.

Volunteers

Local support is greatly appreciated and extremely beneficial towards continuance of services for needy families. The Food Bank serves over 3,000 needy households each year. It’s been a bountiful time recently for the Gretna Food bank since the organization was finally able to replace the very needy, 20 year-old roof.

Donations are always very much appreciated, but the social services organization is hurting right now because of a lack of volunteers.

Geri Mayville, Volunteer

“We’re an all-volunteer operation and we could always use more. We lost our older, longtime volunteers during Covid,” Pittman said.

One retired volunteer who helped greatly with fundraising during her tenure was Chris Ziifle who said, “It was my most enjoyable time working the desk at the Gretna Food Bank for a long time. Since Covid, I’m still not strong enough to help out there. When I was there, I went to local clubs, like the Gretna Historical Society and the Friends of the German-American Cultural Center to help with the funds to install the elevator-lift which was necessary to carry store merchandise to the second floor. Back then the volunteers were elderly and needed the lift.”

Drop off any of your clothing or treasures that you can live without, from Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at 1400 Jefferson St. in Gretna or call if needed, 504.367.6676.

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