Posts Tagged: Community

Mike Havala takes a look back at his first year as CEO and President of Loaves & Fishes Community Services. “I have been able to spend a lot more time with so many incredible people both in our community and organization. This support, as demonstrated by our volunteers, donors, partners and many others, is absolutely… Read more »

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 »

Loaves & Fishes’ Child Nutrition Initiative has been a crucial part of our hunger-relief efforts since 2004, when it was launched to supplement the loss of school-provided lunches for students during the summer months. As the need in our community increased, the initiative expanded in 2005 to provide breakfast foods for students during the school… Read more »

Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud. ~ Maya Angelou Growing up in Naperville, I have experienced many changes that the city planners have made to accommodate a growing population. In the early 1960s, Naperville was a small town with a population around 12,000; today, the population has grown to about 142,000. Changes are… Read more »

On Monday, May 19th from 4-7 pm, Loaves & Fishes will be hosting an open house for any community members interested in becoming volunteers. Our volunteer base of over 1,500 makes our progress and success possible, and we are always looking for new team members that are interested in giving back and helping our neighbors… Read more »

Today marks the first request for food made to St. Raphael Catholic Church, answered by what would soon become Loaves & Fishes. As the demand for our services grew, the outpouring of community support was inspiring. As we reach our 30th year anniversary (which will kick off at Day Without Hunger), Loaves & Fishes is… Read more »

November is here, which unfortunately means drastic cuts to food stamp benefits. According to USA Today, “a family of four that gets $668 per month in benefits will find that amount cut by $36…Vulnerable populations [such as the elderly and children] will be hardest hit by the cuts.” How will this affect individuals in our… Read more »

Excerpt from “Your Cause Marketing Edge” blog: One of the key elements of successful partnerships is the ability to share the spotlight. As the struggle to stand out in a crowded field continues to grow, this trait is often overlooked. Workplace and industry competition are keen, so the pressure to achieve short-term recognition can sometimes… Read more »

Special thanks to Sasha and Vaughn Lindstrom who initiated this incredible project and to Mayor George Pradel who helped rally the entire community around this effort. According to the Chicago Tribune: What began as a brother and sister competing to collect the most cans of soup now may become one of Naperville’s most successful food… Read more »

Thanks to our community partners, Loaves & Fishes is able to feed our neighbors daily through our Community Food & Nutrition Program. On October 16th, we join together, as part of an international initiative, to strengthen our efforts to eradicate hunger. According to Lester R. Brown, President of the Earth Policy Institute and contributor for… Read more »