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.
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 upmost importance since we are dedicated to contributing to our clients’ health and well-being. Our Board of Directors oversee our progress toward achieving our strategic plan. These individuals provide expertise in areas such as operations, finance and organizational advancement.
Overall, our dedicated volunteers are essential to managing and carrying out our programs. They are the heart and soul of our daily operations!
Board Of Directors
Not pictured: Joe Chura, Barry Horek, Corey Schmidt, Ashfaq Syed
- Executive Committee Board Chair
Sue Haines – General Mills - Immediate Past Board Chair
Kevin O’Hara – Kabza, O’Hara & Associates - Vice Chair Governance
Meena Banasiak – Phoenix Packaging - Vice Chair Finance & Treasurer
Barry Horek – Ernst & Young (Ret.) - Vice Chair Advancement
Nicki Anderson – Benedictine University - Vice Chair Operations & Programs
Nancy Couch – Community Volunteer - Secretary
Dr. Laura Bokar – Fox Valley Institute for Growth & Wellness
- Joe Chura – Cars.com & GO Brewing
- Adam Fuchs – Wintrust
- Mike Havala – President & CEO of Loaves & Fishes
- Ron Haskell – Attorney (Member Emeritus)
- Jorge Ibarra – BMO Harris
- Russell Karlins – Karlins Real Estate Ventures LLC
- Megan Lynch – Duly Health and Care
- Timothy O’Donnell – Huck Bouma, CEO & Co-Founder of Autobahn Country Club
- Kristen Refness – Edward-Elmhurst Health
- Corey Schmidt – IntentGen Financial Partners
- Ashfaq Syed- Senior Corporate Banker
- Celeste Wagner – C-Saw Marketing & Aurelio’s Pizza
- Joel Weinberger -Dealer Principal Continental AutoSports Ferrari
- Dr. Benjamin White – Joliet West Sr. Army Instructor JROTC
Staff
- President & CEO
- Mike Havala mhavala@loaves-fishes.org
- Executive Vice President -Advancement
- Nancy Wiersum nwiersum@loaves-fishes.org
- Executive Vice President – Programs
- Janet Derrick jderrick@loaves-fishes.org
- Vice President of Operations
- Cary Gilkey cgilkey@loaves-fishes.org
- Assistant Vice President – Volunteer Engagement
- Shelly Schmitz sschmitz@loaves-fishes.org
- Director of Human Resources
- Ann Zediker azediker@loaves-fishes.org
- Director of Food Logistics
- Melissa Luken mluken@loaves-fishes.org
- Director of Philanthropy
- Eric Gardner egardner@loaves-fishes.org
- Director of Marketing & Communications
- Joni Wiltz jwiltz@loaves-fishes.org
- Director of CARES Programs
- Mary Boulos mboulos@loaves-fishes.org
- Associate Director of Advancement
- Nicole Louis nlouis@loaves-fishes.org
- CARES Programs Manager
- Lesvia Abdallahlaballah@loaves-fishes.org
- Manager of Health and Food Programs
- Michelle Zepeda mzepeda@loaves-fishes.org
- Grant’s Manager
- Paul Cofer pcofer@loaves-fishes.org
- Manager of Food Logistics
- Jim Kukla jkukla@loaves-fishes.org
- Food Rescue and Receiving Manager
- George Wood gwood@loaves-fishes.org
- Food Market Manager
- Kristeen Anderson kanderson@loaves-fishes.org
- Volunteer Manager
- Susan Ochoa sochoa@loaves-fishes.org
- Finance & Information Manager
- Eileen Flynn eflynn@loaves-fishes.org
- Program Manager
- Leslie Mancilla lmancilla@loaves-fishes.org
- Graphic Designer
- Mario Perez mperez@loaves-fishes.org
- Assistant Market Manager
- Juan Jacquez jjacquez@loaves-fishes.org
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Heather Humikowski volunteer@loaves-fishes.org
- Assistant Warehouse Manager
- Chad Craven ccraven@loaves-fishes.org
- Warehouse Assistant/Driver
- Bob Anderson banderson@loaves-fishes.org
- Spoke Assistant/Driver
- Hector Melo hmelo@loaves-fishes.org
- Program Coordinator
- Maria De La Cruz mdelacruz@loaves-fishes.org
- Maintenance
- Al Cole acole@loaves-fishes.org
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
- Dr. Mary Ann Bobosky, Advocates Building Communities, Inc.
- Vasavi Chakka, ARAALA, Inc.
- Laura Crawford, Chamber 630
- Colin Dalough, Edward-Elmhurst Health
- Rachel Ossyra, Fox Valley Park Foundation
- Bev Patterson Frier, Naperville Senior Task Force
- Alex Pope, Rush Copley Medical Center
- Dan Gibbons, Turkey Trot Foundation
- John Koranda, Naperville Bank & Trust
- Natasha Marriner, Busey Bank
- Peter Paolilli, Altair Advisers
- Jackie Romberg, Community Volunteer
- Caroline Senetar, ReMax of Naperville
- Cathy Subber, The Branch
- Angela Thomas, Pregnancy Information Center
- Dr. Linda Van Horn, Northwestern University
- Karen Wells, Make a Wish Foundation of America
- 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.
Audits By Year
Directions & Hours
Directions to the Naperville Market 1871 High Gove 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
Click here for Holiday Meal Distribution Hours
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.
