Loaves & Fishes mission is to feed the hungry of Contra Costa County unconditionally, through the use of a large number of volunteers throughout the central and eastern portions of the county.

Description:
Loaves & Fishes is the largest provider of meals to the hungry in Contra Costa County. Additionally, we are the only agency in the county providing hot meals five days a week to the hungry. We serve anyone in the community who is hungry. About 950 meals are served daily. Since its inception in 1983, Loaves & Fishes has founded six dining rooms in Contra Costa County where over 3,000,000 meals have been served.

In February 2002, Loaves & Fishes completed the idea of having a Catering Kitchen and opened it in Pittsburg, CA. We immediately began working on expanding our services throughout Contra Costa County. The Catering Kitchen is approximately 1750 sq. feet and is fully equipped to prepare 1,200 meals per day. The cost of producing the Catering Kitchen was $500,000.00. We successfully raised enough money to pay off the building expenses, which allowed us to focus on the expansion of our services. The Catering Kitchen allows us to serve at the 6 dining rooms located throughout Contra Costa. Three years ago we were serving 70,000 meals yearly, this fiscal year we expect to serve over 300,000 meals. Our dining rooms are located at Church of Christ, Bay Point, CA; St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, Concord, CA; First Baptist Church in Martinez, CA; St. Anthony's Church in Oakley, CA; United Pentecostal of Antioch, CA; and Seventh Day Adventist in Pittsburg, CA.
We abhor all racial and religious prejudice and are in adamant opposition to any threats of violence, particularly those that are rooted in discrimination. Rules for acceptance and participation in our program are the same for everyone without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, and mental or physical challenge. To all who come, we offer a friendly environment, a warm meal, and a ray of hope.

History:
After witnessing growing numbers of people looking for food in a neighborhood dumpster, Pauline Brisbin and Lucy Zendaez, both Contra Costa County residents, felt compelled to act. They started making sandwiches and handing them out, from the back of a station wagon to these hungry people. Other concerned citizens began to help Pauline and Lucy. They approached St. Peter Martyr Catholic Church and asked for the use of its basement to prepare and serve meals. The first day they served twenty-six meals. However, the number of people who arrived at the newly formed soup kitchen grew quickly. More volunteers were recruited and local companies started to donate food, allowing the dining room to serve a mid-day hot meal five days a week. After several months, hundreds of meals were being served daily, without charge to the recipients. Anyone, without qualification, who enters the dining room, was provided a meal. In May 1983, a 501(C) (3) non-profit corporation was formed with the name "Loaves & Fishes."

Contact people:

Rick Richardson, Executive Director, (email) Joleen Lafayette, Grants Manager, (925) 837-8758, (email)

Office fax number: (925) 837-8758

Address:

P. O. Box 3335 Danville, CA 94526

Web Site: http://loavesandfishesofcontracosta.org

Overall Experience   
i thought it was fun

it was fun posted on February 22, 2005

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