What Happens When You Visit

Loaves & Fishes offers both United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-provided food AND donated food from local groceries, churches, and other local organizations. Loaves & Fishes gives out food through the USDA’s Emergency Food Access Program (TEFAP), which allows people whose household income is 150% or less of the USDA’s federal poverty level (e.g., household income is less than or equal to $31,170/year for a family of three, or $18,210 for a single household) to pick up food once a month.

If an entire household receives Food Stamps (SNAP) or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or a one-person household receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid, then they are automatically eligible to receive food at Loaves & Fishes.

USDA food is supplemented by generous donations of fresh produce and bakery items and frozen meats from local grocers.

Hours & Location

Tuesdays: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Wednesdays: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Thursdays: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Saturdays: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Loaves & Fishes is located at 2050 Lambs Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901.From Hydraulic Road, turn onto Lambs Road between Albemarle High School and Connect Church. Loaves & Fishes is on your right across from the entrance to Jack Jouett Middle School and Greer Elementary School.

Parking & Waiting Area

Getting food from Loaves & Fishes is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please plan to arrive no sooner than 1/2 hour before we open the pantry (see open hours, above). A parking lot attendant will show you where to park and will give you a pass to enter the pantry when it is your turn to enter.

We are here to serve you and in order to do so in an orderly manner, there are certain procedures we need to follow. Thank you for taking the time to read this notice. You will be asked to sign at intake that you have read and agree to these rules.

Follow instructions given by Loaves & Fishes staff and volunteers.
Please keep your car music levels low.
Unruly and disruptive behavior is strictly prohibited on the property and in the Pantry. For safety reasons, you MUST control children in your care when visiting the Pantry. Please do not leave kids unattended in play area.
No alcoholic beverages allowed on the property. Anyone who appears to be intoxicated will be refused admittance.
No weapons allowed in the Pantry building.
No profanity, verbal harassment, or loud, unruly voices.
Please do not use your cell phone inside the building. If you must take a call, please step outside. If you do step outside, notify the greeter when you come back in, in case your name was called while you were outside.
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry reserves the right to ask anyone who does not follow our rules to leave the Pantry. Individuals who repeatedly violate these rules may be permanently banned from coming to Loaves & Fishes.
Loaves & Fishes does not provide bags. Please bring 4-5 fabric or plastic, reusable bags with you on your next visit.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1) mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

2) fax:
(202) 690-7442; or

3) email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Reader's Corner

Friends of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library and local teachers have donated books that Loaves & Fishes’ adult clients and children can take a home each time they visit the pantry. Children receive a reward if they return with a “book report” on the book.

Nutritionist's Food Prep Tips

Several times each month, a volunteer nutritionist visits the pantry during food distributions to share with clients healthy recipes and samples of the food available at the pantry. (link to Nutritionist's corner)

Registration

Once in the waiting area, you will check in with a volunteer who will confirm your address and phone number, household members, and total income for the household. You will be asked to sign certifying the following:

• I am the only person in this household who has applied for this assistance.
• The income of all persons in my household is not more than the amount listed on this form.
• I understand that I can only receive USDA food once a month.
• I understand that making a false statement may result in having to pay the state for the value of the food improperly issued to me and may subject me to criminal prosecution under state and federal law.
• I have read and agree to the Parking Lot and Facility Rules.

Loaves & Fishes does not share any information regarding our clients with anyone other than what we are required to report annually to the USDA.

Selecting Groceries

When it is your turn to get your groceries, a volunteer will help you shop for foods your family will eat and select the best food for any dietary restrictions you may have. Loaves & Fishes will give you about 40 pounds of food per person in your household (about eleven days’ worth of groceries), consisting of USDA canned fruits and vegetables, dried foods (pasta, oatmeal, raisins), potatoes, and juice, and a selection of fresh fruit, vegetables, bread, and pastries, frozen meats, and other items donated by local groceries. Because most of our food is donated, we cannot guarantee what we will have each time you visit; however, there will always be enough food for everyone.

Loading & Departure

Once you have chosen your groceries, a volunteer will help you load them into your car.