C'ville Craft Aid Comes to the Rescue with Face Masks for All
Jen Koym didn’t imagine that her love of crafts and sewing would turn into managing an in-demand service to the community. But when COVID-19 arrived in Charlottesville, the need for protective face coverings in our community and other PPE for healthcare workers became an overnight desperate demand. Jen wasted no time creating kits for more than 130 active sewers to take home and sew, returning the completed masks for distribution to the in-need community.
When Loaves & Fishes is open for grocery pickup, staff and volunteers offer masks made and donated by Cville Craft Aid to their customers, asking that, the safety of all, all customers wear masks when picking up their groceries.
You can support C’ville Craft Aid by donating, buying masks, or by volunteering to sew. Sewers are supplied patterns and materials, as needed. The organization is partnering with UVa Children’s Hospital for the holidays to sew medical dolls for young patients, tote bags, hats, and blankets, all in support of families who will be spending the holiday season with a child at the hospital.
We’re grateful to C’ville Craft Aid for all they do in the community, and for the 1,500 masks they have made to date for Loaves & Fishes!
How Abundant Life Ministries Benefits from Loaves & Fishes
Charlottesville’s Abundant Life Ministries demonstrates God’s love through holistic community development in the Prospect neighborhood. The ministry started in 1996 and includes three main pillars: Spiritual Development, Academic Support and Economic Empowerment.
Anne Brown, director of community engagement for Abundant Life said that she’s grateful for all that Loaves & Fishes provides to the community, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Household budgets are being depleted due to the additional time at home which increases utility costs and grocery expenses. Loaves & Fishes has been an excellent resource. Neighbors with food stamps are often unable to provide enough food for their children and welcome being able to obtain nutritious food,” she said. “Neighbors report they’ve had very positive experiences at Loaves & Fishes. People are so nice and pleasant. It’s also helpful to have more fresh food than non-perishables. The pandemic has impacted working families that have never needed to seek assistance with food before.”
In a program held each Tuesday, Abundant Life/Fifeville neighbors enjoyed meals from Cultivate Charlottesville, Cville Cares, and Frontline Foods with fresh produce provided by Loaves & Fishes. “All the neighbors loved having the fresh produce with their meals and the meal distributors enjoyed sharing their recipes for vegetables and fruits that some neighbors were trying for the first time.”
During the pandemic, Academic Support for K-12 includes half-day (M-Th) in-person programming for elementary students providing a structured environment to support students and parents with virtual learning. After school tutoring for middle school students from Buford and Walker Schools is offered Monday through Thursday at Buford Middle School. Abundant Life is also developing a plan to offer tutoring for high school students and a quiet study space with internet access.
In a time when many are unable to work, Economic Empowerment becomes an even more critical need. Abundant Life’s Dollars and $ense program is a nine-week adult personal finance class on budgeting, savings and growing personal assets. Several of the participants have become first-time homeowners.
How Loaves & Fishes Provides Food to Guests of The Haven
The Haven, located in downtown Charlottesville, endeavors to end homelessness in the greater Charlottesville community. Those without a place to call home have challenges obtaining nutritious food as well as other basics. The Haven provides a place to shower, do laundry, receive mail, and receive assistance with finding housing and employment.
Francesca Rinaldo, the kitchen manager at The Haven, focuses on providing breakfast for more than 100 guests on a daily basis. Guests begin their day with a nourishing meal – 365 days a year! All are welcome! Several local churches provide lunches to 120-140 guests each weekday. Francesca and her team oversee the distribution of these lunches to the guests at the Haven. The Haven currently houses about 60 people in a local hotel so they can shelter in place during the pandemic, and Francesca and her team coordinate the cooking and delivery of dinners to these guests during the week.
Francesca noted that Loaves & Fishes is a source of a variety of food. Loaves & Fishes Executive Director Jane Colony Mills, calls Francesca when she has an abundance of food that The Haven guests might enjoy. Examples include venison, and vegetables like onions and peppers that can be used in omelets and other dishes and recently, a large box of churros. Francesca noted that the churros were a great hit for a recent lunch – she heated them and dusted them with cinnamon sugar and the guests were thrilled! The venison was used in meatloaves – combined with pork or beef – and served to those guests who are staying in hotels.
Volunteers prepare breakfast to go at The Haven. Photo credit: Zack Wajsgras.
Francesca appreciates the calls from Jane – and says she receives some really fun things from Loaves & Fishes that she would not otherwise have had access. An example is many quarts of fresh strawberries – which she could not otherwise purchase. She and her team made desserts, jam, and pancake syrup – much to the delight of guests.
She says with a smile – “Sometimes what’s on offer is something we can’t use – such as large packages of sprinkles. I still have the bear meat she gave us and I’m looking at creative ways to serve it to our guests.”
Francesca also noted that Loaves & Fishes is an important resource for the guests who have been rehoused. About two dozen family units receive food from the pantry each month. She notes that some of the guests awaiting housing are frustrated – because they have no way to store or cook the nutritious food available from the food pantry.
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