Every weekday Loaves & Fishes of Contra Costa produces 800 meals to be served @ 5 sites in Contra Costa County. They give anyone who is hungry a place to sit, enjoy a hot meal with salad and get out of the weather. They also have teamed up with The Food Band of Contra Costa & Solano to distribute food bags. This is a great non-profit that runs very bare bones. They pick up donations from food partners and use that food to serve the meal of the day. Most of the money raised is used directly to feed the hungry. Most of the staff are part-time. They could always use volunteer help, donations or both. If you are a food operation in Contra Costa please consider donating any excess food to LFCC.
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- EIN 68-0018077
- info@loavesfishescc.org
- (925) 293-4792
- 835 Ferry Street Martinez CA 94553 USA
- www.loavesfishescc.org
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Food, Food Programs, Human Service Organizations, Human Services
Mission:
The mission of Loaves & Fishes is “To feed the hungry of Contra Costa County by providing free hot nutritious meals at dining facilities in local communities where there is need.”
Programs:
This Fiscal Year the needs for our program are increasing monthly. More and more of our neighbors are hungry due to the recession. This year Loaves & Fishes has seen a marked increase in the number of meals served. We are seeing more families with children looking for a consistent, healthy meal. In Contra Costa County more retired or disabled people on fixed incomes are being forced to choose between food, rent, medical care, or prescription drugs. Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa serve meals to the hungry in a welcoming and positive environment, respecting the dignity of each individual. Loaves and Fishes volunteers serve those in need without regard to race, religion, sex, age, or any other qualification. We are committed to serving anyone who is hungry. Of our guests, some 25% are homeless, the majority of whom are individuals and families who simply do not have enough money to last through each month represent the majority. Contra Costa employment grew 9.4% at the end of March 2009-a dramatic 70% increase over last year. Our Martinez dining room saw an increase of 50% meals served over last fiscal year with almost 4,000 meals served per month (200 meals served per day). Antioch and Oakley dining rooms average about 1,000 meals served each month. Contra Costa County community members are not immune from the threat of homelessness. At least 14,757 people in our county experience homelessness each year. More than two-thirds of them are members of a family, including almost 7,000 children. On any given night, more than 4,800 people are homeless, living on the streets or in temporary accommodations, such as an emergency shelter, a motel, or a relative’s couch. Each night in Contra Costa County, at least 4,829 people are living on the streets or in temporary accommodations, such as an emergency shelter or on a friend or relative’s couch. The majority are members of a family. Almost half are children. Loaves & Fishes reaches out to all these individuals and gives them one of the basic needs of life and that is food. It is not junk food that is served. The meals consist of a nutritious hot entrée with pasta or potato base, meat, fish or beans provide the protein content. Cream soups and cheeses are also added to increase flavor and nutritional value. Vegetables, bread and butter, canned or fresh fruit, and fruit juice are other components of the meal.