Hungry and Jobless
Hungry and jobless – that is the message we hear repeatedly in our
dining rooms. The growing need for a hot, nutritious meal here at
Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa (LFCC) continues to expand at an
alarming rate. We have seen more than a 54 percent increase on most
days, and near the end of the month that increase in meals served is
close to 100 percent higher than last year’s. Currently we are serving
more than 9,000 meals per month. Residents of Contra Costa County
continue to struggle in this recession that relentlessly grinds on with
no relief in sight.
In the Kitchen With Carmen
Entering Carmen Schiavone’s orbit is like jumping into a mile-high twister: you just have to hang on
and go along for the ride. And as catering and kitchen manager for
Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa, she stirs up just about everything
that comes into and goes out of the Pittsburg kitchen.
The First Day on a New Job
The first day on a new job is a spicy brew of excitement, surprise, perhaps a touch of anxiety, and expectations, some met, others not. Such was December 3rd for Loaves and Fishes’ new executive director, Michael Baroman-Coggins, on an introductory tour of L&F’s kitchen and dining rooms, guided by Bart Charlow, interim executive director, and Carol Babcock, operations manager.
Thanksgiving Dinner for Over a Thousand Guests!
Chef Carmen Schiavone, Catering Manager for Loaves & Fishes of Contra Costa, provides the ingredients and directions for preparing Thanksgiving dinner for over a thousand guests.
Partner Sites a Win-Win!
“Thank you so much for the food. Our seniors were truly delighted with the meal today. I made an announcement…saying this was all possible because of Loaves and Fishes, you should have seen the applause! This will enable us to…more…effectively carry out our programs.” - Karla Villarpando, Monument Crisis Center Staff
Expanding Again to Serve Growing Need
Demand is up almost 50% in the economic crisis. We’re back in Concord and expanding through partnering organizations to more sites and cities.
Saint Isidore Students Serving the Hungry
Not all students qualify so it’s an honor to be selected. The second Friday of each month at L&F’s Martinez dining room, students from Saint Isidore School join their adult volunteers in serving food to the hungry. The kids who attend the school are required to give back to their community by having a required number of service hours for their Religion class. Participating at L&F is always one of their favorites.
Kismet and the Chevy
Mitchell Neto carefully parks his beautifully restored yellow panel truck, perhaps his first love as some men are wont to feel toward their first car. He is at the edge of the Danville Farmers’ Market, and it is his Saturday to collect produce donated by the farmers to Loaves and Fishes.
About Joshua’s Bar Mitzvah Project
When discussing types of community service projects to work on, Joshua knew right away what he wanted to do. He wanted to cook for the working homeless. He wanted to plan the meals and cook the meals himself.
Bountiful Harvest from Danville Farmer’s Market
Pacific Coast Farmer’s Market Association has been assisting L&FCC at the Danville Farmer’s Market each Saturday since 2006. A team of capable volunteers gather fresh produce so essential to our daily menus.
Many Friends at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church
Annually more than $5000 in financial support is generated from a variety of Saint Matthew programs such as special holiday offerings and the church’s onsite farmer’s market.
A Donation in Remembrance of a Homeless Woman
Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa (LFCC), which prepares daily hot meals for the hungry in the county, received a $2,500 donation in honor of Ulla Lacey, a popular Martinez homeless woman who died on a near-freezing night in a downtown parking lot this past winter. The money was collected from downtown businesses and from individuals, including from the closely-knit Martinez homeless community itself.
van Loben Sels/RembeRock Foundation
Loaves & Fishes recently received a $1,000 grant from the van Loben Sels/RembeRock Foundation.
We have a long-standing relationship with this organization that has
supported us since 1995. Their mission focuses on the underserved
residents and communities of Northern California, and we appreciate
their help in our mission of feeding the hungry.
AAA to the Rescue!
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and almost 1,000 guests are coming to dinner at Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa County. The kitchen on Garcia Avenue in Pittsburg shifted into high gear beginning November 2 to simultaneously prepare the Thanksgiving dinner
and the 500 or so regular meals served every day around the county. And what better place to get started than with the turkey? Or, in this case, 60 large turkeys, donated by AAA, now head-quartered in Contra Costa County.
Blackhawk Women's Invitational Benefits Loaves and Fishes
The women gathered at Blackhawk’s tennis courts, racquets in hand and ready to play in Blackhawk Women’s Tennis Association Ladies Invitational, an annual tournament that serves as a fundraiser for local nonprofits. However, Mother Nature had other plans that day and tennis wasn’t on the list. Pouring rain washed the courts, and women headed indoors at the Blackhawk Country Club Lakeside, where a luncheon and a silent auction awaited. While the tournament was rained out, enthusiasm for the silent auction wasn’t dampened, and L&F, one of two nonprofits designated, received a generous $3,500.
Littlest Donor Has Biggest Heart
When 10-year-old Colton Hall has an idea and sets a goal, he doesn’t rest until that goal is reached. One day in a catechism class, he learned that there are people in Contra Costa who are hungry and don’t have enough money to buy food.
