Mission and History of Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen
Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen is committed to providing no cost, hot nutritious meals and support services in a dignified, safe and caring environment. We provide services to all needy individuals, with special concern for families, senior citizens and homeless. Loaves & Fishes was founded in 1980 to fill a void in the community for these special populations. Our kitchens now serve meals five days each week at three locations. The number of guests has grown from the initial 11 served on February 15, 1980, to over 200 per meal. Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, religion, gender, age, handicap or sexual orientation.
Loaves & Fishes provides:
- No cost hot meals in San Jose Monday through Friday at Catholic Charities' Eastside Neighborhood Center; Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at InnVision's Montgomery Street Inn; and, Wednesdays and Fridays at St. Maria Goretti Kitchen itargeting families, seniors, single women, couples, and the disabled.
- Community Services to better serve the needs of our guests and to provide extensive information and referral services. We provide emergency outreach assistance, infant care supplies, and information and referrals for additional services.
- Extensive Holiday Programs including Senior Brunch, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas when we offer pictures with Santa Claus and "shopping days" for parents to take gifts home for their children.
- Grocery Bags are distributed to families on the 3rd Wednesday of every month from 11:00am - 12pm at the St. Maria Goretti site.
Facilities
Our main office is at 777 N. First Street, Suite 420 in San Jose, CA 95112. Our food storage, kitchen and meal service rooms are located at Eastside Neighborhood Center on Alum Rock Avenue, InnVision's Montgomery Street Inn, located in Downtown San Jose. We also use the kitchen and general purpose room at St. Maria Goretti Church, located at 2980 Senter Road, to prepare and serve meals.
Staff
Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen has a staff of nine devoted employees.
Volunteers
We are blessed with a solid base of over 1,500 people who volunteer time, food, and supplies to operate Loaves & Fishes. Our volunteers annually donate over 20,000 hours to our organization, equivalent to over 9 full time employees. Volunteers are always needed for our meal program, Children's Programs, Holiday Programs, and special events.