Approximately 11% of our neighbors in Lenawee County qualify for assistance in obtaining the food they need. Fishes & Loaves is our response to the community’s need and Christ’s call to feed the hungry. This ministry’s goal is to assist in the alleviation of hunger in our neighborhood by soliciting, collecting, packaging, and even growing food and then distributing it to our neighbors who are in need. To that end, we distribute over 7,500 pounds of food to nearly 500 people per month.

This social enterprise serves and involves the following groups of people:

• Neighbors in need: Our shoppers are low-income people, mainly families, and over half of those served are children or seniors. We provide a grocery-style (“client choice”) shopping experience for monthly emergency food distribution. Allowing shoppers to choose their own food rather than providing fixed containers lends dignity and respect to our neighbors, increases satisfaction, and reduces waste.
• Members of the community: Fishes & Loaves operates a warehouse/distribution storefront with the help of volunteers, who get the opportunity to interact with shoppers, share the love of Christ, and form supportive relationships.
• Churches, businesses, and other organizations: The ministry actively solicits food donations from individuals, churches, organizations, food banks, growers, retailers, wholesalers, and processors.