Loaves & Fishes offers groceries from USDA's The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and also offers donated foods that we call "Pantry" groceries. We also participate in USDA's Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for people age 60 or above.

USDA Groceries
You qualify for USDA groceries if any ONE of the following is true:

• Your monthly household income is 150% or less of the USDA’s 2020 Federal Poverty Level (for example, $31,170/year for a family of three, or $18,210/year for a single household);
• Your entire houshold receives SNAP or TANF; or
• You live alone and receive SSI or Medicaid;

USDA food is given once or twice a month for each qualifying household. Loaves & Fishes does not share any information regarding our clients with anyone other than what we are required to report annually to the USDA.

USDA Nondescrimination Statement

Pantry Groceries
Even if you don't qualify for USDA food, you are welcome to come get food that has been donated by local grocery stores and food vendors. We call these "Pantry" groceries.

More About Grocery Categories

Curbside Pickup is in effect during the COVID-19 pandemic. The basic steps for getting free groceries are below. See How to Get Free Groceries During COVID-19 for more details on these steps. Also see our Grocery Categories and "Do I qualify for free groceries?" above.

1. Come to the Pantry at 2050 Lambs Road near Albemarle High School
2. Park where directed by our parking lot attendant and stay in your vehicle.
3. Check in: A staff member will come to your car and ask for the name and birthdate for the head of the household. If you are new to the pantry, we will give you a form to fill out asking for address and phone, and names, birthdates and monthly income of everyone in your household. The staff member will wear a mask.
   
4. Pick up: When it is your turn, a staff member will show you where to move your car. We will bring groceries to you for you to load in your vehicle.

More About These Steps

Each household may receive food twice per month.

Learn more about Grocery Categories

The amount of food we've been giving out during COVID-19 has ranged from 100-125 pounds per household (and we always give more food to larger households) and has included eggs, various frozen meats, produce (including leafy greens, whole and cut fruit, potatoes, onions, carrots, and cabbage), bread, and shelf-stable items like pasta, rice, canned fruit, vegetables, beans, and peanut butter.

The #5 bus on Charlottesville Area Transit stops at the intersection of Georgetown and Hydraulic roads. Loaves & Fishes is 1/2 mile east on Hydraulic:  walk past Albemarle High School and turn left onto Lambs Road at the light at Connect Church. Loaves & Fishes is the next property on the right past the church, across from the entrance to Jouett Middle and Greer Elementary schools.

Clients with disabilities can apply for a voucher to use JAUNT to get groceries at Loaves & Fishes. JAUNT has been fare-free since COVID-19 started, and we will bring food directly to the bus when it arrives, so you don’t have to leave bus.

The groceries we are able to offer varies from day to day and we do our best to provide a generous supply and variety of nutritious foods that we source from our community partners.

We offer a selection of fresh fruit, vegetables, bread and pastries, frozen meats, and other items donated by local groceries, along with USDA canned fruits and vegetables, dried foods (such as pasta, oatmeal, raisins), potatoes, and juice.

See our Nutritionist's Corner & Recipes for a monthly Nutrition Newsletter, USDA and ChooseMyPlate resources, and easy recipes.

There is no age limit to receive food, although any client under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian when visiting Loaves & Fishes. Only one member of a household may collect food for that household in a month. (Many of the households we serve have multiple generations.)

We participate in USDA's Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) provides an additional 30 pounds of food each month to seniors age 60+ who provide proof of their age and income. 

Loaves & Fishes asks for the birthdate and name for the head of the household. If you are new to the pantry, we will give you a form to fill out asking for address and phone, and names, birthdates, and monthly income of everyone in your household.

If this is your first time coming to the pantry, please print and complete the following form, and bring it with you.

New client general intake form

Formulario general para el uso del programa informático

No identifying client information is shared outside of Loaves & Fishes. Loaves & Fishes only needs your name, birthdate, and income to give you food. Clients can complete paper forms if they are not comfortable having their information entered into our client registration database.

A volunteer shift is typically between 2-3 hours. Some volunteers commit to a regular schedule such as once a month, while others help us out periodically as their schedules allow.

During our COVID operations, Loaves & Fishes uses volunteers to help us pre-bag our dried/canned goods and miscellaneous frozen meat items in advance of distributions, and volunteers during our 3x/week distributions to pack grocery carts and deliver to clients’ cars in the parking lot.

Learn More About Volunteering

During our COVID operations, the physical demands on our volunteers has dramatically increased.  Volunteers need to be able to repeatedly lift items up to 20 pounds on and/or off our 3-shelf racks and pallets of varying heights.  Volunteers are on their feet for the duration of the shift.  To review all current job descriptions and physical requirements, visit our Volunteer Hub.  Because we are a working warehouse, we do ask that all volunteers wear close-toed shoes when volunteering at Loaves & Fishes.

While most of our shifts require a volunteer to be at least 18 years old, we do offer a few shifts for younger volunteers.  Please visit the Volunteer Hub to review job descriptions and age minimums.

Yes! Loaves & Fishes has seen an increase in clients who speak Arabic, Dari, Farsi, or Pashto, and Spanish (primarily). If you speak any of these languages, please email our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteers@cvilleloavesandfishes.org to learn more about how we can use your skills.

Due to our current COVID operations drastically reducing our need for volunteers, we are not accepting court-ordered community service applications.

Due to our current COVID operations drastically reducing our need for volunteers, we are not scheduling group reservations.

Due to our current COVID operations drastically reducing our need for volunteers, we are not scheduling school groups.

All volunteers are required to wear a mask for the duration of the shift.  Masks must cover your nose and mouth.  Upon arrival for a shift, volunteers are required to perform a forehead temperature scan and write temperature on our daily log.  Volunteers are asked to maintain 6-foot physical distance from staff and other volunteers as much as possible.  Loaves & Fishes complete COVID-19 protocols can be found here.

Loaves & Fishes' operations are wholly funded by the generosity of individuals, families, businesses, churches, foundations, and civic and other non-profit groups in our community. We could not feed so many people in our community without our donors, no matter how big or small the contribution! 

Join Loaves & Fishes' Builders Circle

The Builders Circle is Loaves & Fishes' core group of supporters who give $1,000+ per year for several consecutive years. Loaves & Fishes relies on this group for 40-50% of our annual operating budget.

In 2017, a gift of $1,000 made it possible for Loaves & Fishes to give out 5,280 pounds of food, equivalent to 4,610 meals.

Builders Circle brochure

Donate to Loaves & Fishes with a credit card or PayPal online or send a check to 2050 Lambs Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901.

Loaves & Fishes has an account with TD Ameritrade. Please contact treasurer@cvilleloavesandfishes.org or Jane Colony Mills at executivedirector@cvilleloavesandfishes.org for our DTC and account information.

Loaves & Fishes is fortunate to have received Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) state tax credits for the past six years, and offers credits worth 50% of total gift. However, tax credits are limited. Please contact Jane Colony Mills at executivedirector@cvilleloavesandfishes.org for information.

In addition to our operating costs, Loaves & Fishes has capital funding needs each year to replace or upgrade equipment needed to run our operation (e.g., funds to replace box truck used to pick up donations or make deliveries, forklift, or building roof). If you are interested in capital funding opportunities, please contact Executive Director Jane Colony Mills at (434) 996-7868 or executivedirector@cvilleloavesandfishes.org.

Does your company match gifts employees make to non-profit organizations? Leverage your contribution to Loaves & Fishes by applying for your company's match. Be sure to let Loaves & Fishes know if your gift will be matched and whether we need to file any follow up information with your company.

Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign: Virginia state employees can support Loaves & Fishes by selecting CVC Code 200168.

Amazon Smile: Support us while shopping through your regular or prime Amazon account.

Kroger Community Rewards: Support Loaves & Fishes by using your Kroger Plus card.

Purchase L&F Merchandise: 100% of your purchase goes directly towards our operations budget.  

Learn more about these easy giving programs

Loaves & Fishes accepts donations of food, including local garden excess in the summertime. Click here to learn more about In-kind Donations.

Please note that, as a distribution agency for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Loaves & Fishes is often able to purchase food for much less than retail prices, so we can make your monetary gift go much farther. In 2017, a gift of $25 made it possible for Loaves & Fishes to give out 132 pounds of food, equivalent to 110 meals.

Loaves & Fishes' finances are reviewed by an independent accounting firm annually, and audited every three years. Our financial reviews and tax returns can be viewed and downloaded from this website and at Guidestar.org.