August 2020

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No Need to Worry

Your support has helped us to continue serving triple the amount of meals compared to this time last year. We are encountering many people who are seeking out food assistance for the first time, along with the people who have always relied on our free, healthy meals.  I am not typically a worrier, and yet have found myself thinking and hoping for the best for the people who are isolated and alone. Many of our guests have asked when they can come back to the table so that they can eat with their friends. The answer is not clear. We are making plans site-by-site and designing safe traffic patterns, while also planning for what a to-go model may look like through the cold winter.

Read Executive Director Cathy Maes' Full Letter

To-Go Model at Work

For the last five months, we have adjusted to serving meals through our to-go dining model. We are incredibly thankful for our volunteers who have stayed committed to providing nutritious, free meals, even amidst all of the uncertainty. Our dining site locations have doubled in the last year - from 32 in 2019 to 64 currently. We are projected to serve 3,500,000 meals in 2020. Even though our model is different, we still need your help! Consider joining our exclusive Facebook page dedicated to new and returning volunteers and our daily needs.

Volunteer With Us Today!

Join our Volunteer Facebook Group!

You're Providing Fresh Food for Families

We received a heartwarming story from a parent that visited one of our YMCA dining sites. Because of you, parents like the one below are able to nourish their children through our healthy meals. This is a reminder of why your support is so important: "I am so grateful for the food assistance you have provided to my family. My child has sensory issues and struggled with eating food all of his life. His diet is very limited and he is scared to try new foods. Today, we received a box of fresh produce from a YMCA dining site. Inside was a beautiful, green bunch of romaine lettuce. My child picked up the lettuce, held it in his hands, and said, 'I like it!' I cried when I saw my child eat lettuce without any problem."- Guest Story.

You can help provide moments like this all year long by becoming a monthly giver. Joining our Monthly Giving Program is the simplest and most effective way to support Minnesotans who are experiencing hunger. Your monthly gift will provide consistent access to healthy meals all year long for the people who need it most.

Become a Monthly Donor Today!

Survey Says...

Always free, always healthy. Your ongoing care and commitment makes sure that happens, even as the need for fresh food continues to skyrocket. We recently surveyed a sample size from our community meal sites and have a better understanding of how the pandemic has impacted our guest’s employment and need for food. We found that 33% had their employment impacted by the pandemic and 57% have come to Loaves & Fishes for the first time since March.  You're probably just as concerned as we are by these statistics. With your support, we can continue to help our community receive healthy meals now and into the future.

Help Meet The Increased Need

Loaves & Fishes www.loavesandfishesmn.org (612) 377-9810 Meals. Comfort. Kindness.

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