About Us

Mission & Values

Loaves & Fishes Community Services is a registered 501(c)(3) organization that has served our community since 1984.

Vision

Ending hunger. Transforming lives.

Mission

To provide healthy food and impactful programs to promote self-sufficiency.

Our Core Values

Compassion, Dignity, Health, Hope, Service

All of Us Together

We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our organization. We celebrate diversity, strive for equity and welcome all to our services and practices. The unique needs, perspectives and potential of all who interface with Loaves & Fishes contribute to an environment where everyone is valued.

We Believe

…in the power of community to change lives. …that by working together we can accomplish great things. …that each person possesses inherent dignity. …in the nobility of the human spirit. …the opportunity to serve is a gift. …food is a right and not a privilege.

Where We Serve

Residents of DuPage, Will, Kane and Kendall Counties are able to visit for grocery assistance once a week. Households from outside these counties may receive a one-time emergency distribution.

Clients are able to shop at our Naperville Market, located at 1871 High Grove Lane.
Pre-pack groceries are available for curbside pick up at our Aurora Hub, located at 580 Exchange Court.
Food distribution is available every Wednesday at our Bolingbrook location151 E. Briarcliff Road, Bolingbrook, IL.
Shop our Online Market at www.lffood.org 
For more information on times for shopping and distribution visit Get Help.

Our Nutrition Policy

Loaves & Fishes is committed to providing healthful foods that are important for the immediate and long-term well-being of children and adults.  Click here to read our Nutrition Policy.

 

History

1984 St. Raphael Church opened a pantry to assist families in need of food. Eight families were helped that year. Check out this article from The Naperville Sun in 1984 discussing the introduction of Loaves & Fishes.

1991 18 area churches and civic groups came together to organize the Pantry as a not-for-profit corporation to meet the needs of Naperville. 1992 Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry opened its doors at its new location on West 5th Avenue. 1999 A move is made to a larger location at 556 West 5th Avenue as more than 3,000 food distributions are provided during the year.

2000 A home delivery program to assist senior citizens and disabled residents living in government-subsidized housing is established.

2002 A warehouse is added at 552 West 5th Avenue to accommodate growth in food distributions to more than 9,000 per year.

2003 Home delivery grows to include five sites. Food distributions climb to more than 10,000 for the year.

2004 School nutrition initiative established to provide summer meals for Naperville students, and we distribute more than 17,000 lunches. Approximately 950 Naperville students in grades 1-12 qualified for government lunches during the prior schools year.

2006 The warehouse is moved next door to 554 West 5th Avenue, allowing us to combine that unit with 556 to better serve our recipients. Mayor Pradel cuts the ribbon at a dedication ceremony.

2007 In the fiscal year ended June 30, Loaves & Fishes provided a record 1,000,000 pounds of food and other essentials to 1,675 families totaling nearly 5,600 individuals.

2008 Loaves & Fishes provided 1,800 struggling families with over 5,000 bags of groceries each month. Land was purchased for construction of a much-needed, larger facility at 1871 High Grove Lane in Naperville. Client Choice distribution system implemented to allow clients to shop for the food they need. Charles McLimans was named Executive Director. Also in 2008, Loaves & Fishes was named a finalist for Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Not-for-Profit of the Year; named a finalist for Naperville Jaycees Distinguished Service Award. The first Day Without Hunger is celebrated.

2009 A fourth food distribution session is added in response to a 60% increase in new enrollments over the same time period last year. Loaves & Fishes is named Not-for-Profit Small Business of the Year by the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce.

2010 Service area expands to include all of DuPage County. Construction begins on new facility at 1871 High Grove Lane.

2011 Move to new facility at 1871 High Grove Lane and begin Pathways to Empowerment programs.

2012 After meeting with engaged community stakeholders, Loaves & Fishes’ Board of Directors passes our five-year Strategic Plan.

2014 Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry becomes Loaves & Fishes Community Services and announces $6M Power of Community campaign at the 7th annual Day Without Hunger. Loaves & Fishes is named Top Agency Partner in the area of Safety Net by United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. First-time fundraiser, Night to End Hunger, raises $267,650 for Loaves & Fishes’ programs.

2016 Mike Havala becomes President & CEO. Loaves & Fishes merges with Naperville CARES and expands its services. Loaves & Fishes Market and Loaves & Fishes CARES programs provide efficiency and greater access for our neighbors.

2017 Loaves & Fishes initiates first session of Moving Up Program, a 16 week, 50 hour class to help our neighbors plan and create their own bright future stories. The Stamp Out Hunger Letter Carrier’s Food Drive results in a record 97,000 pounds of food collected in one day. Loaves & Fishes offers weekly shopping in the food market, and increases access to healthy, nutritious food through its food recovery program and local grocery partners. The mobile market begins distributing to senior citizens in Marian Park Apartments in Wheaton.

2020 Loaves & Fishes introduces the “Building for Lasting Impact” initiative. As part of the Loaves & Fishes Strategic Plan for 2019-2021, a hub and spoke model was created to increase access to healthy food. On January 11, 2021, they announced the acquisition of an approximately 30,000 square foot warehouse distribution building that will serve as the “hub,” where they will receive, store and process all the food they distribute. 

2021 Loaves & Fishes officially opens the new Food Distribution Hub and expands its service area to Kane and Kendall counties to meet the need of three times the number of people they were serving before.

2023 Loaves & Fishes Food Distribution Hub is officially named the Linnea Eleanor Rutkowski Food Distribution Hub in honor of the late, Linnea Rutkowski who was a longtime volunteer and donor to Loaves & Fishes.

2023 Loaves & Fishes Naperville location is named the Frank J. Rus & Donald S Toy Food Market & Resource Center in recognition of a very generous donation.

Our Team - Board & Staff

Loaves & Fishes is a collaborative community effort focused on making a difference in the lives of our neighbors. Within our facility, Loaves & Fishes’ staff is supported by over 1,500 volunteers. Our volunteers are engaged at a variety of levels.

Our warehouse volunteers sort through fresh, canned, and boxed items to ensure high-quality products for our clients. This process is of the utmost importance since we are dedicated to contributing to our client’s health and well-being. Our Board of Directors oversees our progress toward achieving our strategic plan. These individuals provide expertise in areas such as operations, finance, and organizational advancement.

Community Advisory Council

The Loaves & Fishes Community Advisory Council (CAC) is a group of key leaders who are committed to the mission and vision of the organization. They provide thought leadership on a variety of topics, assist in fulfilling the goals of the strategic plan, and serve as ambassadors for the agency. CAC members each bring their own unique perspective, experience, and industry expertise to the agency, strengthening and connecting Loaves & Fishes to advance the initiatives focused on ending hunger and transforming lives.

Community Advisory Council

• Adrian Aldrich, Non Profit Fundraising Professional
• Dr. Mary Ann Bobosky, Advocates Building Communities, Inc.
• Vasavi Chakka, ARAALA, Inc.
• Laura Crawford, Chamber 630, Ret.
• Casey Cuevas, Bilingual Community Service Director
• Danielle M. Dahn, CFP, Savant Wealth Management
• Colin Dalough, Endeavor Health
• Janet Derrick, Community Leader
• Bev Patterson Frier, Naperville Senior Task Force
• Dan Gibbons, Turkey Trot Foundation
• Jamie Horner, Naperville Police Social Worker
• John Koranda, Naperville Bank & Trust
• Natasha Marriner, Busey Bank
• Rachel Ossyra, Fox Valley Park Foundation
• Chris Phalon, Edward Jones
• Cathy Subber, The Branch
• Angela Thomas, William L. Clay Scholarship & Research Fund
• Nancy Wiersum, Nonprofit Advisor
• Alice Wood, Kabbe Law Group

Financial Information

Loaves & Fishes is dedicated to achieving a strong and responsible financial position. Through the generosity of individuals, businesses, foundations, organizations, local government, and faith communities who contribute funds and in-kind donations, Loaves & Fishes is well equipped to continue assisting our low-income neighbors with our Community Food & Nutrition Program and our Loaves & Fishes CARES programs.

Publications

Directions & Hours

Directions to the Naperville Market 1871 High Grove Lane, Naperville IL 60540

From N. Aurora Rd & Rt. 59:
Turn south on Route 59 for 0.6 miles, then left at the light on Meridian Pkwy/Glacier Park Ave. (at Target). Turn left again at High Grove Lane. Go 0.2 miles to the entrance of the pantry at 1871 High Grove Lane. Follow the entrance to the back of the lot. Parking is around the pantry to the right.

From W. Ogden Ave:
Follow Ogden Avenue (Rt. 34) as it turns south. Turn right on Quincy Ave (at the car dealership). Take a right on High Grove/Fort Hill Drive. Go 0.3 miles to the entrance of the pantry at 1871 High Grove.

Directions to the Aurora Food Distribution Hub, 580 Exchange Court, Aurora IL 60504

From Rt. 59:
Turn west on Liberty St for 0.8 miles, then left onto North Commons Dr, for 0.2 miles turn right onto Exchange Ave 0.1 miles and in 350 feet turn right onto Exchange Ct.

Directions to Compass Church, Bolingbrook, 151 E. Briarcliff Road, Bolingbrook, IL

Click here for our Distribution Hours ENGLISH / SPANISH 

Office Hours

Administrative Offices 

1871 High Grove Lane, Naperville IL 60540
Office Hours
Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.