How Does Food Waste Affect Us?
We are all guilty of throwing away food; however, you may not be aware of the national and global extent of this problem. As Megan Bedard, Food Contributor for TakePart, states, “There are 870 million people in the world today who are undernourished, according to the World Food Programme…Globally, we’re wasting four billion tons of… Read more »
NSA Media Pie Smash for L&F
Interested in smashing a pie in your boss’ face to raise money for Loaves & Fishes? Check out this clip, courtesy of our friends at NSA Media in Downers Grove, who did this exact thing! NSA Media Pie Smash! from Mike Neerhof on Vimeo.
Loaves & Fishes Receives Spirit of Volunteerism Award
The DuPage Community Foundation announced the selection of its 2013 Spirit of Volunteerism Awards recipients, which have been graciously funded by BMO Harris Bank and an anonymous donor. This year, DuPage Pads received a $30,000 grant; Loaves & Fishes Community Services received a $20,000 grant; and RE:NEW received a $10,000 grant. Established in 2011, the Spirit of Volunteerism Awards were created… Read more »
Loaves & Fishes Partners with 360 Youth Services
Loaves & Fishes Community Services and 360 Youth Services have created a unique partnership to assist young men, ages 18-24, in the 360 Youth Services transitional housing program who lack the credentials and experience necessary to be competitive candidates in the workforce. These youth face many challenges in their quest for self-sufficiency, including unemployment. Since… Read more »
Spending a Week on Food Stamps Taught Me a Lesson That Could Aid All Grant Makers
Could you take the SNAP challenge? Loaves & Fishes supplements SNAP (food stamps) with all of the food we provide our client families. from the Chronicle of Philanthropy: “The number of Americans who are too financially strapped to pay for food has grown to an unconscionable number, but still the problem gets little attention in… Read more »
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Results
The VITA team, headed by L&F volunteer Tom Wcisel, held their final session at Loaves & Fishes on April 13. At the end of the day, the volunteer tax team had completed 362 returns for the community, yielding $576,000 in Federal refunds and $54,000 in state refunds. That’s an increase in clients of 19% over… Read more »
Rep Bill Foster (D-IL) visits Loaves & Fishes
Congressman Foster recently toured Loaves & Fishes in response to our letter regarding the Farm Bill. We are sharing the letter’s contents here. Please see pictures from the visit and tour below. Dear Congressman Foster: Loaves & Fishes has a vital interest in advancing the Farm Bill. We serve over 600 low income households every week,… Read more »
The Government’s Role In Helping Us Live Generously
from The Far Edge of Promise on December 27, 2012: As the U.S. federal government approaches the January 1 “fiscal cliff” deadline, there continues to be discussion around closing tax “loopholes” in an effort to increase tax receipts. As has been discussed previously, the charitable gift deduction has gotten swept up into this conversation. It would… Read more »
Loaves & Fishes Community Services continues to address unprecedented need in Naperville
from Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce December 7, 2012 By: Susan Frick Carlman This might sound like a broken record, but the Loaves & Fishes Community Services has broken its own grim record. Again. During November, the Naperville hunger relief agency fed 1,972 families in need, some of whom turned to the pantry more than… Read more »
Thanksgiving – families served Nov 13-20, 2012
From November 13th through the 20th, Loaves & Fishes served 4,185 persons, of whom 1,839 were children, 2,118 adults, and 228 seniors, in a total of 996 households. Yes, this is a record week. However, each of these persons and families received a generous amount of food, including a turkey with all the trimmings for… Read more »