The food Loaves & Fishes gives out comes from local groceries, farmers, orchards, food distributors, and food drives. Donations include frozen meat, fresh and canned fruits and vegetables, baked goods, prepared foods and dairy.
2021 Food Donations *
Donor |
Total Weight Donated |
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (includes USDA food) |
1,282,684 |
Sam’s Club |
374,887 |
Kroger (Barracks, Hydraulic, Rio Hill) |
136,237 |
Wegman’s |
112,582 |
Donations from food drives, processors, farms | 90,421 |
Costco |
89,259 |
Food Lion (Pantops, Mill Creek, 5th Street) | 67,430 |
Giant |
15,746 |
Purchased milk and eggs |
8,204 |
Aldi |
7,962 |
* The above is just a sample of the very generous donations we receive.
When Loaves & Fishes receives donations we cannot give out to our clients, we try to share them with other organizations who also serve low-wealth members of our community. We have given brand-new mattresses to Alliance for Interfaith Ministries, Charlottesville's Dept. of Human Services, the Departments of Social Services, and the Shelter for Help in Emergency, costumes and clothing to the Shelter, Salvation Army, Ronald McDonald House, and the UVa Children's Hospital, and order-taking notepads to CATEC's food truck.
And what about the food we can't serve to clients?
Our surplus dairy, produce and bakery items are shared with other local non-profit organizations such as Piedmont Housing Alliance, Salvation Army, The Emergency Food Network, PACEM, The Haven and other area food pantries. Food that has passed its expiration is shared with local farmers to feed their livestock.