Join us for a time of good, old-fashioned fun!
Come support Loaves & Fishes at our Spring BINGO events in St. Paul and Marshall. All proceeds raised will go directly towards serving more fresh, nutritious meals to Minnesotans in need.
- Our St. Paul event takes place Sunday, March 22 from 4-6 PM at BlackStack Brewing. We have fantastic prizes lined up as well as our popular meat raffle!
- Our Marshall event takes place Tuesday, March 31 from 6-8 PM at Brau Brothers Brewing.
We need volunteers for the St. Paul Bingo event at BlackStack Brewing!
If you are interested please
sign up here
.
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Please join us for a lively morning of discussion as we work to face hunger head-on in our community
.
During the second annual Loaves & Fishes Community Breakfast you'll learn how we are expanding our outreach to meet the need and what you can do to nourish food insecure Minnesotans. Come be a part of our morning of learning and giving! A complimentary breakfast will be served but seating is limited, so
reserve your spot
by April 29.
When:
Wednesday, May 6
Time:
Registration begins at 7:30 AM. Program runs from 8-9 AM.
Where:
Hallie Q. Brown Community Center in St. Paul.
Parking:
FREE parking in the Hallie Q. Brown parking lot.
A special thank you to our Gold Sponsors:
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Feeding the Body and the Soul
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Your continued support not only ensures that people's stomachs are fed, but also creates opportunities to feed people's souls as well.
Read below to see how you're making a difference in the lives of Minnesotans in need.
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Janet and Cathy are older Minnesotans who dine at our Creekside dining site in Bloomington. They both live alone, so coming together for a meal is a meaningful time for them to socialize with each other. It’s difficult for them to prepare a meal for one, so it means a lot to be able to enjoy a hearty and healthy meal together that they didn’t have to cook. Our Director of Advocacy was able to give them referrals to social services to help them continue living safe and healthy lives in their own community.
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Mary and Loye met each other over a meal at our River Heights dining site in Inver Grove Heights last year, forging a new friendship. When Loye lost two loved ones this past year, Mary was there for her. Mary doesn’t have a car but Loye does, and she is more than willing to pick up Mary so they can eat and socialize together. Our open to the public dining sites offer a welcoming space where people like Mary and Loye can come together for a fresh, nutritious meal, while also having the opportunity to create new friendships.
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Loaves and Fishes can’t provide healthy meals without the many people who take the time to volunteer with us at our dining sites, the farm and our warehouse. We are so thankful for the Blake School Alumni who spent a Saturday making sock kits and stocking food in our warehouse.
If you or your organization would like to volunteer, please
view our current opportunities here
or contact Lonny Evans, Director of Volunteers & Outreach, at
volunteer@loavesandfishesmn.org
.
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Andrew Scott, our site coordinator at Hope Presbyterian Church in Richfield, was once an exchange student living in Belgium. His experience influenced this hearty and healthy soup. Below is Andrew's recipe for a Flemish-style fish stew made with ingredients he found in the Loaves & Fishes warehouse. The fish stew was served at two of our dining sites and received rave reviews!
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Flemish-Style Fish Stew
4 ribs celery, sliced on the bias ¼”
½ whole fennel root, diced ½”
2 medium yellow onions, diced to ¼”
1 medium leek, sliced crosswise ¼” (Wash first: Trim off the root, then holding the green end, slice down the white long quarters twice at 90 degrees; rinse/scrub out well)
1 bay leaf
A few healthy sprigs of thyme
1/2 to 1 pound washed and chopped bok choy, green cabbage, or spinach
1 qt vegetable stock
1 qt filtered cold water, as desired
One or two large shrimp/fish bullion cubes
2 medium russet potatoes or 1 pound red potatoes, diced to ½”
2 12-oz cans of corn, with water
1 lb. white fish of choice, cubed, or uncooked wild-caught shrimp (available at Trader Joe’s), thawed.
Directions
:
- Sweat the onions, celery, leeks, fennel in butter. Add the thyme once things get going.
- De-glaze adding the stock and then water. Dissolve the bullion in the water. Add salt and white or black pepper to taste. Add the bay leaf.
- Add the potatoes, bring to boil, cover, turn down heat and simmer for 15-20 min, until potatoes start to get soft.
- Add the corn, green veggies, thawed fish/shrimp, and return to boil.
- Simmer until done, at least 15 minutes. Correct seasoning to taste.
- Option: Finish with a touch of lemon juice over each bowl.
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It’s been a little over two months since our newest dining site at Faith Church United Methodist in Farmington opened its doors, providing the community with fresh and healthy meals.
The site served 60 meals on opening day and Pastor Karen Evenson says, “It’s just grown from there. We serve an average of just over 100 meals every week, with our highest being in late February of 130 people!”
The dining site is abuzz with activity beyond just serving meals. The Parish Nurse for Faith Church is on hand for blood pressure checks. On occasion, a bluegrass group called the Fiddlesticks provides entertainment for the guests. There is also a weekly "giveaway" table and a free clothes closet that people are welcome to shop in during the meal.
Schools, community groups and other organizations have given of their time to make sure people in the Farmington community have a nutritious meal to eat. “We have individuals, seniors, couples, families, veterans, kids, and teens from all walks of life joining together to enjoy nutritious meals and get to know each other as a community,” Pastor Karen said. She also
adds that Chef Scott Evenson, a former professional chef, works with the volunteers who help to prepare the meal, set tables, serve, and clean up afterwards.
Pastor Karen believes that this weekly meal, Wednesdays from 5:30 – 6:30pm, is a place of true community. She says, “Truly, a community meal with people of all ages, backgrounds... and lots of people volunteering with food prep, greeting, serving, and clean up.”
If you would like to volunteer at Faith Church United Methodist, go to our
Public Dining page
to sign up.
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Loaves and Fishes
(612) 377-9810
Meals. Comfort. Kindness.
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