Moving Up From Poverty: Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back
Eighteen months ago, Loaves & Fishes embarked on a journey to help individuals change their lives. In January of this year we launched our first “Moving UP” session which is a sixteen week program where clients investigate the impact poverty has had on their lives. The goal of the program is to have participants create a… Read more »
The Power of Community
The western suburbs of Chicago are increasingly becoming home to low-income families in search of safer neighborhoods, better schools, and affordable housing; yet, they are finding that a lack of employment opportunities and public transit are blocking their path to self-sufficiency. With the help of Loaves & Fishes, these families are connected to the resources… Read more »
“People Helping People” Philosophy Stocks the Shelves of Loaves & Fishes
Hunger doesn’t take a “summer vacation.” That’s why employees of the Naperville-based Illinois Credit Union System (ICUS) significantly increased their efforts during their annual summer food drive for Loaves & Fishes. As a result, they donated more than 1,100 pounds of food to help feed our hungry neighbors. ICUS employees collected our most needed items,… Read more »
How Could Proposed Funding Cuts Impact Client Families?
Child poverty, unfortunately, is a growing epidemic in the state of Illinois. No one wants to see a child suffer. No one likes reading or hearing about a child being abused or neglected. We are aware of programs, services, and even policies at both the state and federal level that have been effective reducing child… Read more »
Finding Solutions that Stick
The Client Engagement Model has been going strong for a little over 90 days now. We have learned a lot about our clients as a result. Poverty has many faces, names, stories and cultural backgrounds, but our clients have so much in common. They want the best for their families, whether they have been struggling… Read more »
A Start to a Healthy Year
The beginning of the year is a natural time to think about goals for the future, and personally speaking, health goals always seem to be at the top of my list. In fact, many of us are realizing the impact of our day-to-day food choices on overall health, and the importance of being proactive in… Read more »
The New Poverty
If we go by the usual stereotypes, we think poverty exist only in certain major cities such as Chicago south and west side, South Central Los Angeles, the 5th Ward in Houston, Texas, Bronx, New York, etc. Yes there is a population that truly lives in poverty in these cities. For some, it’s even been… Read more »
What’s in Your Diet?
National Geographic gives us a wonderful view of the world from the 50,000 feet perspective, and consumption patterns described here are particularly interesting. The diagrams are a startling depiction of what everybody has suspected for some time now: we are eating far too many foods containing fats and sugars. If that is true in most… Read more »
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week on Fox 32 Chicago
Charles McLimans, Loaves & Fishes President & CEO, was invited to speak to Corey McPherrin and Darlene Hill on Fox 32 Chicago about suburban poverty and how Loaves & Fishes is reducing it thanks to our incredible supporters. FOX 32 News Chicago
Campaign Makes Program Evolution Possible
The Power of Community Campaign was created to help Loaves & Fishes achieve the goals set forth in our strategic plan, including programmatic growth. Thanks to our community’s support to date, Loaves & Fishes is piloting the Client Engagement Model, which will benefit more low-income families by focusing on food, prevention, education and wellness. What… Read more »