“I feel so much joy each time I sit down to create birthday greetings for our senior clients!  I clear the dining room table and bring out the supplies – cards, stickers, and pens.  I allocate about four hours to complete the cards for two weeks,” says Kate Wulf, a long-time volunteer at Loaves & Fishes. 

Kate served as a Client Guide for over two years.  She was a regular for the Wednesday afternoon food distribution – as were so many volunteers for that day.  She greeted many of the ‘regulars’ by name and was always delighted to help them select their food.  However, on March 17 that came to an end – with the arrival of COVID!   

In May, the Outreach team began calling all seniors who had not visited the pantry since March to confirm they were okay. Kate was delighted to help on this project – and she reported that many clients were not aware that the pantry was open.  She also noted that many clients wanted to chat – they were lonely! 

The Outreach team launched a second project at the end of the summer – calling all clients to whom we deliver food to determine whether they would be able to come to the pantry.  Again, Kate did a fantastic job – and again noted how talkative some clients were.  We chatted about her experiences - and she asked whether the pantry sent birthday cards to seniors or did wellness checks.  Her questions led to the launch of the Birthday Brigade.

We created a list of all clients age 70 and over – about 240 clients. We also have a list of clients 75+ which had about 100 fewer clients - but Kate opted to work with the 70+ group.  With boxes of birthday cards and lots of stickers, Kate went to work.  She prepares cards in batches and sends out 5 – 7 cards each Monday.  She says that decorating the cards is the most fun.  She is so organized – when she has decorated and addressed the cards, she puts them in a stack on her stairway – and just grabs a batch each Monday.  

We know that the recipients are grateful and we were delighted to receive a sweet thank you note when one of our clients came to pick up her food. 

4P Foods is an up-and-coming leader in the next generation of food distribution. The company’s core values, People, Purpose, Planet, Prosperity, are reflected in its mission to help build healthy food communities. Every week, the company connects residents in the greater DC-area to good food from small family farms with sustainable management practices. A portion of all fresh food is donated back to local food bank partners on a weekly basis. Through partnerships with the USDA, Metropolitan YMCA, and Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, 4P Foods is creating channels where organic food can be available in the most underserved neighborhoods.

Tom McDougal founded 4P Foods in 2014 in the Washington DC area with a clear vision. “We have a food system in America that is fundamentally broken. There exists a growing hunger-obesity paradox in low-income communities, our farmers are working harder for less money than ever before, and our environment is being pillaged by the current methods of production in the industrial agricultural system that has come to dominate our food supply.

It doesn't have to be this way, though. Food can be a powerful tool for social justice and sustainable growth. Healthy and ethically sourced food from local environments can become the norm, as opposed to the exception. We can begin to build a more just, socially equitable food system of tomorrow,” McDougal said.

“My life’s work is to help build a fair food system for all people. I am passionate about responsible business conduct that factors in true cost accounting - the impact on people and the environment. I also believe businesses should exist for a purpose. I am a tireless advocate for food equity and am part of the movement to make fresh foods accessible to all, no matter your zip code or income-level,” he said.

In Charlottesville, 4P Foods partners with the Local Food Hub to provide fresh produce, meat, and dairy.  All products are sourced from local farms and delivered to participating clients. For every 10th bag they sell, 4P Foods donates a bag to local food bank partners, including Loaves & Fishes.

Charlottesville Operations Manager Rod Crawford said, “Loaves & Fishes is an incredible nonprofit that has been helping local families obtain nourishing food for years. Through our donations to Loaves & Fishes, everyone gets great food that is really important at a time like this. The people at Loaves & Fishes are really nice and graciously accept both large and small produce deliveries.”

Since June, 2020, 4P Foods has donated more than 4,200 pounds of fresh produce to Loaves & Fishes.

Rod added that anyone can become a member of 4P Foods and that those in the Charlottesville area can have fresh produce, meats, and dairy delivered to their homes.  For more information, visit their website http://4pfoods.com/