Picnicking in the Park: Our Volunteers Rock!
Between July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, 1,561 volunteers donated 85,686 hours – the equivalent of 41 full-time employees! This hard work had to be celebrated, so we gathered at the Naperville Grand Pavilion with nearly 300 volunteers to enjoy music (from Belgio’s), food (from Gregg Eisel), and some fun yard games. Shelly Schmitz,… Read more »
How can we stop child hunger?
I have been having trouble with bills and such since I was laid off and Loaves & Fishes has helped me a lot in being able to provide food for my three children. It has been so helpful and everyone is so nice. I am diligently trying to find a job and I would love… Read more »
“Poverty is a circumstance, not a value judgment”
What does it mean to be a food stamp recipient? The political landscape has been split in discussions ranging from program abuse to the perpetuation of poverty. It is a hotly debated topic (for more debate insight, check out this blog; however, when you consider who receives this public benefit assistance, what type of person… Read more »
My Gratitude Adjustment
It has been a busy week at Loaves & Fishes so far. After being featured in Harry Porterfield’s “Someone You Should Know” segment on CBS2 last week, we received many calls from potential clients seeking information about our programs. The result: we served 729 people on Tuesday, including 292 children! While this doesn’t break our… Read more »
Day Without Hunger & Night to End Hunger Launch New Era for Loaves & Fishes
It was a perfect day, surprisingly, for Friday the 13th, which created the perfect setting for Loaves & Fishes’ Day Without Hunger celebration. Day Without Hunger, which began 7 years ago as a 24-hour event, is an opportunity for community members to learn about food insecurity and Loaves & Fishes’ innovative service model that seeks… Read more »
What does it mean to be a Loaves & Fishes volunteer?
On Monday, May 19th from 4-7 pm, Loaves & Fishes will be hosting an open house for any community members interested in becoming volunteers. Our volunteer base of over 1,500 makes our progress and success possible, and we are always looking for new team members that are interested in giving back and helping our neighbors… Read more »
Spring has Sprung! Help Stamp Out Hunger this May!
Spring cleaning can finally begin now that the winter has released its firm grip on the suburbs. As we start emptying our cabinets and throwing away unwanted items, the National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual Stamp Out Hunger food collection is a reminder that we live among neighbors who cannot afford nutritious foods for their… Read more »
Loaves & Fishes evolves their service opportunities
Today marks the first request for food made to St. Raphael Catholic Church, answered by what would soon become Loaves & Fishes. As the demand for our services grew, the outpouring of community support was inspiring. As we reach our 30th year anniversary (which will kick off at Day Without Hunger), Loaves & Fishes is… Read more »
L&F volunteers honored in community
At Loaves & Fishes, we are privileged to work alongside many talented individuals who put in countless hours to make a difference in our community. This month, Jim & Patrice Lia, who received the Fireball Award in November from Loaves & Fishes, were named Volunteers of the Month by Naperville Bank & Trust. “When first… Read more »
Celebration of Compassion recognizes distinguished service of volunteers and supporters
[imagebrowser id=8]On November 8th, Loaves & Fishes held the Celebration of Compassion at the Celebration Community Life Center in Naperville to announce this year’s honorees. Guests included major supporters as well as volunteers who donated more than 100 hours of time during the year ended June 30th. Charles McLimans presented the awards, donated by John… Read more »