Food Pantry in the Tenderloin Promotes Community & Friendship

“Our tenants are really grateful for what they’re getting. They are really happy someone is thinking of them and sending food their way,” says Lizz Cady, a staff member from the Tenderloin Housing Clinic.

Cady refers to the tenants who live at the Elk and the Pier, two low-income housing sites in the Tenderloin. Every week, the Food Bank delivers groceries for a farmer’s market-style food pantry. Residents line up early to select from tables full of fresh produce, pantry staples and lean protein.

The Pier and the Elk both provide food to 85 low-income residents each week. The Pier offers a communal kitchen where residents cook for one another and collaborate on meals. The Elk is a predominantly senior residence where the food pantry helps tenants feel less alone. Many residents don’t have friends or family to rely on, so their neighbors and the staff are their closest friends.

“Everyone is always really excited for the pantry to happen,” Cady says. “The food is meant to be supplemental, but at the Pier pantry, we have a lot of individuals who have no income. For many people, the pantry is their only source of food.”

Written By: Blain Johnson