What is Solomon House?
Solomon House is a non-profit outreach mission of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany. Located on Center Street in the heart of New Iberia, Solomon House’s primary function is to serve as a food pantry for residents of New Iberia who are at or below the poverty line. Free groceries are distributed by volunteers every Tuesday morning to approximately 120 families who have registered with Solomon House. Clients of Solomon House must register annually and provide identification and proof of income.
Many community partners donate food items to Solomon House, including Walmart, Raising Cane’s, Starbucks, Big Lots, Dare to Care, US Postal Service Food Drive, and the Food Net Food Drive. A typical family will receive at least three bags of groceries each week. Food items may include bread, beans, rice, sweet potatoes, bottled water and pastries, along with a variety of canned goods.
In addition to serving as a food pantry, Solomon House is able to provide some emergency assistance. Families needing help with medical expenses, transportation costs, housing and utilities, school and household supplies or emergency disaster relief are able to apply for aid up to four times per year. The average amount given to help a family is $50. At Christmas time, Solomon House hosts holiday events for the elderly and youth of the parish and distributes educational gifts and basic necessities. Solomon House has also been able to distribute books to children in the community as well as needed school supplies.
As the primary food pantry in Iberia Parish, Solomon House is also able to share food with St. Francis Diner in New Iberia, Our Lady of Victory Food Pantry in Loreauville, and St. Nicholas Food Pantry in Lydia. Last year over $200,000 in groceries were distributed to Iberia Parish families. All of these food items were donated, and nothing goes to waste! Aside from supporting other food pantries, Solomon House donates perishable items such as stale bread to St. Francis Diner in order to feed the pigs that they raise. Even the grocery bags that are used are donated and recycled!