South Cameron High’s Tarpon Mart open house celebrates three years of community impact

South Cameron High School proudly welcomed the community to an open house celebrating Tarpon Mart, the school’s on-campus food pantry. Made possible through the CHRISTUS Ochsner SWLA Foundation, Tarpon Mart has grown into a vital lifeline for families throughout lower Cameron Parish.

The Tarpon Mart food pantry is a cooperative endeavor between South Cameron High School, Second Harvest Food Bank, CHRISTUS Ochsner SWLA Foundation and the CHRISTUS Ochsner SWLA School-Based Health Center. Guests enjoyed a guided tour of the pantry, learned about its community outreach initiatives and connected with the dedicated staff. During the open house, Cheniere Energy further strengthened the mission by contributing a generous $6,000 gift in support of Tarpon Mart’s ongoing efforts.

Since its launch in September 2022, the Tarpon Mart has provided essential food and household items to families in need while fostering student engagement and community wellness. The pantry was made possible through funding secured by the CHRISTUS Ochsner SWLA Foundation from No Kid Hungry, and it continues to thrive today thanks to generous donors and local support.

“Thanks to our generous community, we’re able to provide food pantry service two Wednesdays out of each month,” said Heidi Baccigalopi, assistant principal at South Cameron High School. “Families shop and select items for their family to use within the next two weeks. The gratitude they express really keeps us pushing forward.”

Over the past three years, the Tarpon Mart has made a measurable impact:

• In its first year, 41 of the school’s 92 student families received support from the pantry.
• The program quickly expanded to include 90 additional families from lower Cameron Parish.
• Between 2023 and 2025, more than 120 families registered with the pantry, each visiting an average of 10 times over the course of 48 pantry openings.

“It's incredible to see the Tarpon Mart still thriving three years later and continuing to make a difference for those who need it most,” said Patricia Prudhomme, executive director of the CHRISTUS Ochsner SWLA Foundation. “We’re so grateful for the community support that continues to help the food pantry provide ongoing service.”

The open house was a celebration of resilience, generosity and the power of community partnerships. A donation of $120 provides a family with one week’s worth of meals. To learn more about how your support can help sustain this vital resource, please visit christusochsnerswlafoundation.org.