Spotlight On… Loaves and Fishes

By Jamie Swinnerton
Tompkins Weekly

 

Non-profit organizations are plentiful throughout Tompkins County, and make a big impact in our communities. Despite their contributions, area non-profits can sometimes go unnoticed or unknown. In an effort to shine a spotlight on those who are making a difference in our county, Tompkins Weekly will be showcasing these organizations on a regular basis.

This week we are highlighting the Loaves and Fishes of Tompkins County. To learn more about the organization, we asked Executive Director Reverand Christina Culver.

 

Tompkins Weekly: What is your mission?
Christina Culver: Loaves and Fishes of Tompkins County is a Christian ministry that provides a place for free meals, hospitality, companionship and advocacy for those in need regardless of their faith, beliefs or circumstances. All are welcome.

 

TW: How do you fulfill that mission?
CC: For 34 years, the St. John’s Episcopal Church has hosted Loaves & Fishes. There we have offered Tompkins County residents a welcoming community where guests can share a “home-cooked” meal with others and receive practical assistance and support when needed. Last year we served over 32,000 meals. Currently, we are serving an average of 140 meals daily and over 2,700 each month.

Aside from one kitchen manager and our Advocacy Coordinator, our daily nutritious free meal and advocacy program is made possible by 20 to 30 kindhearted volunteers. Most are kitchen volunteers who prepare, serve and clean up after the meal, but some are trained advocacy volunteers. They offer our guests non-judgmental, practical support and linkage to social service resources. Additionally, over 25 agencies provide direct outreach to our guests during meal times. This includes outreach from Child & Family Open Doors (youth at risk), Catholic Charities-Food Stamps, NY Law, Ithaca Free (Health) Clinic, Cooperative Extension Tompkins Jail Re-Entry Program and Challenge Workforce. Local businesses like Gimme Coffee, Ithaca Soy, Wegmans, Ithaca Bakery, Panera Bread and 30 local farms regularly donate their goods to us.

 

TW: What are the biggest challenges your organization faces?
CC: Our biggest challenges are developing effective ways to help solve the root causes of hunger and poverty in our area and to raise enough money each year to meet our budget expenses.

 

TW: What is something people do not know about your organization?
CC: 1) We are Tompkins County’s only community kitchen that provides meals five days a week and approximately one-half of our guests live outside of the city of Ithaca.

2) Loaves and Fishes provides a particularly effective environment to learn when people are in crisis or have unmet basic needs, such as lack of adequate food, housing or medical care. Most people when hungry will seek help in obtaining food as it becomes a matter of survival. However, many people are less likely to ask for help if they have other unmet, but often critical needs because they have no idea how to get these needs met or have given up the expectation that their life can be any different. Additionally, many of our guests have no family, friends or co-workers that can offer assistance to them during times of need. Furthermore, these needs often arise after the hours of the usual 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. work day and on national holidays. Tuesday and Thursdays Loaves and Fishes serves dinner from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and we are open during every holiday that falls on a business day except for Thanksgiving. During meal times our guests commonly reveal to other guests, staff, and volunteers in one way or another that they need help.

3) Loaves and Fishes staff provides formal supervising, mentoring and training of individuals in all aspects of food hospitality from agencies such as The Learning Web and the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) Hospitality Employment Training Program. Additionally, Challenge Workforce Solutions, Franziska Racker Center and Unity House of Tompkins County regularly bring some of their clients to Loaves and Fishes so they can develop hospitality industry work skills and enjoy participating in our welcoming and supportive community.

 

T: How can people best support your mission?
CC: Remarkably, individual gifts cover 75 percent of our annual expenses. One hundred percent of the gifts stay local. Additionally, people can attend our annual Empty Bowls fundraiser or volunteer their time helping us prepare our meal, serve and clean up.