SACRAMENTO LOAVES AND FISHES

I have volunteered with Loaves and Fishes. It is wonderful how this organization loves on these ladies with respect, thoughtfulness, and care. Loaves and Fishes have made relationships with these ladies and I know the women on the streets believe and know they can trust this organization. I appreciate this organization allowing me to serve alongside them. Loaves and Fishes are a blessing to our community and I am grateful to serve with them!
R. W.

I volunteered for Maryhouse when they reopened the breakfast program and it was a great experience to see such love and organization for the guests here, especially families. You can tell how dedicated the staff are and they're so helpful. I would volunteer again!

Loaves and Fishes is a true community consisting of guests, staff and the lifeline of our existence- the volunteers and donors. Everyday is a testament to the human capacity of love and generosity- some days are difficult but our staff and volunteers show up again and again to serve those in need with emergency services and more important, a kind moment. When on site, I am always amazed by the graceful energy that fills the air.

My name is Ja’net Blea ,
I volunteer in the dining room.
The love and compassion that Loaves & Fishes offers with absolute no judgment is beautiful.
I have seen staff members go out of their way to help those in need.
Simply amazing the way the dining room had to change their operation to comply with CDC guidelines as to make sure everyone gets a hot meal during the pandemic.
I have seen the way the staff came together working early staying late working during a fire that took place in the small dining room.
During all the challenges of the pandemic still following CDC guidelines Making sure our homeless community never missed a meal is a testament of the commitment of Loaves & Fishes.
Friendship park has been a place where the homeless can sit have breakfast served by volunteers with compassion and respect.
Mustard seed and their staff are very devoted compassionate and treat the children so wonderfully.
As a volunteer I look forward to coming to Loaves And Fishes to help as does many of my fellow volunteers especially when we see how hard staff works.
So many departments with much needed services for our Homeless community.
It is truly a sacramental blessing to have Loaves And Fishes to serve those in need.

Janet Blea

I am writing as a previous staff member and now volunteer, financial supporter, and board member of Loaves & Fishes. Since the early 1990s I have personally witnessed Loaves’ tenacious delivery of its mission. Especially during these difficult times Loaves has maintained its individualized connection to our guests and has responded to the continuous changes they face.

Was honored to be able to volunteer at Loaves and Fishes on a day when food trucks rolled up to offer free meals to those in need. How great for them to get to choose what they wanted to eat. Human Dignity.

My husband and I are also 30 plus year volunteers at Loaves and Fishes. Unlike many charities, they do not accept government funds, only donations. Also unlike many others, they serve the whole person, not just meals. The clinic is wonderful and Mustard Seed School should be an example to many other communities for providing schooling to homeless children. I’m proud to be associated with this organization!

Loaves and Fishes has many different programs in Sacramento. My family (along with friends) have made and served Thanksgiving dinner for the ladies at Maryhouse. We have adopted families at Christmas. And we've made several donations to Mustard Seed School. All Loaves and Fishes programs. Our community is so much better for all the care that Loaves and Fishes provides.

When I was homeless I would go to Loaves and Fishes and they would treat me like a human being a great hot lunch a shower and a safe place to stay during the day all the staff would treat you like a human being not a homeless person to me Loaves and Fishes with a bright light in a dark world thank you

I moved to Sacramento in 1984. One November night in 1985, I came out of a restaurant on Broadway and saw a man outside in the cold and rain. He was homeless, shivering and I gave him a small amount of money. I could not believe that a person could be in such dire straits. Over the next 30 years I saw the homeless population in Sacramento increase exponentially and it has broken my heart. Starting in 1990, I worked across the street from Loaves and Fishes and saw the migration of the homeless population coming and going throughout the day. I have been a donor to Loaves and Fishes since that time. I have seen in person the great need of people who have so much less. This in the 'richest country in the world.' Loaves and Fishes provides much needed food, shelter and services as well as advocacy for long term solutions to homelessness. I have known staff at Loaves and Fishes and have been inspired by their dedication. I believe in this organization so much that I have named it in my will. Meanwhile, I am happy to contribute now to any specific drives that Loaves and Fishes promotes. Homelessness is a serious social issue for Sacramento, and the population that L&F serves are our brothers and sisters.

Every time I’ve dropped by to donate to Loaves and Fishes I have been met by the most kind, gracious and helpful people. These are the types of people that make Sacramento a great place to live!

I have volunteered in the kitchen for over 30 years. Our group is Loose Change. We are a hodgepodge of amazing people from different careers.
My heart has always been with Loaves and Fishes, Mustard Seed and Friendship park. The people here do amazing things for our guests and our community.

Loaves and Fishes makes it easy to donate. My kids learn the value of giving to others, and my city is better for it. They are a true blessing.

I volunteer at Loaves & Fishes for one of my classes at CSUS. What this organization does for the homeless and those living in poverty is amazing. Every person who comes in for a meal is greeted with a smile, kind words, and the dignity they deserve as a human being. Everyone who works or volunteers there genuinely cares about the clients who walk through those doors. They are all amazing people that go above and beyond for those members of our community that are often forgotten.

I volunteered as a server one time. It was soul satisfying to meet and help those in need. Another time, I purchased numerous small useful things like scarves, socks and other things from a large retail store and donated them. I felt like I was putting some love into a world that has too much unhappy stuff in it.