Loaves and Fishes

I'm very excited for our trip to the Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes. Before looking at their website, I didn't know much about the company and made a lot of assumptions.

I assumed that all the food they gave away was expired or out-dated. I assumed they only provided foods that were packaged in boxes or cans. I assumed it was not very widely used or deemed very successful. I was wrong.

Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes is the biggest provider of emergency food in Kalamazoo County. In 2012, over 125,000 people received food from the program. The program is making a huge difference in the lives of hungry people living in Kalamazoo and has been since 1982. Kalamazoo has a high poverty rate, so programs like this are essential.

Loaves and Fishes does provide fresh fruits and vegetables, not just boxed or canned foods like I thought. Most of the foods provided are collected by donation and quality is monitored. Part of the program's strategic commitment is to provide high quality food, and they live up to that standard. If you would like to donate, here is a wish list of the most needed items.

I appreciate the fact that Loaves and Fishes was an organization started because a group of people were looking to do the right thing by helping people in the community. Churches in the area were hearing many concerns with the increase in hungry people in Kalamazoo, so a few people collaborated to make a change. If everyone were like these people, the world would be a much better place.

The website has an interesting interactive 'game' to play to find out more about what it's like to live in poverty. This game also helps you see how programs like Loaves and Fishes can make a major difference in the lives of many people. Play here.