SAVE THE DATE FOR
GIVING TUESDAY 2023!
NOVEMBER 28
Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
Loaves & Fishes Community Services is working diligently to keep up with a tremendous increase in need. The number of people the organization serves has over doubled since January of 2022, to over 8,000 people each week.
Families across the country have been experiencing the highest inflation in forty years. Those living in poverty or low income are the hardest hit, struggling to meet their basic needs and forcing them to choose between paying for food, housing, transportation, healthcare or clothing. With the double impact of the increase in need and the increase in the cost of food, Loaves & Fishes is also spending more on food to meet demand.
The Loaves & Fishes CARES team answers twenty to thirty calls a day from people in our community needing emergency assistance. With the rising cost of housing and utilities, it is challenging for many people to keep their heat on and pay for rent. Loaves & Fishes emergency assistance keeps people housed, avoiding eviction. The good news is that Loaves & Fishes is seeing results. Last year 99% of clients who benefitted from the Emergency Assistance Program became more self-sufficient.
“We anticipate that the record numbers of families needing help will increase even more over the winter months,” says Mike Havala, CEO and President of Loaves & Fishes. “Giving Tuesday is the perfect opportunity to double your impact due to the matching dollars available to us.”
After being laid off, I was ashamed to seek financial help but absolutely needed it. Loaves & Fishes welcomed me into its food bank until I could get my family back on our feet. I am so grateful for the food and assistance that they provided me. Eight years later, I am committed to giving back to the organization that helped me so much during a troubled time of my life. – Jessie