Mission and History of Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen
Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen is committed to providing nutritious meals and support services in a dignified, safe and caring environment for our guests. We provide these services to all needy individuals, with special concern for families and senior citizens. Loaves & Fishes was founded in 1980 to fill a void in the community for these special populations. Our kitchen now serves meals five days each week at our two kitchen locations. The number of guests has grown from the initial 11 served on February 15, 1980, to 150-200 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 on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at InnVisions Montgomery Street Inn in San Jose, CA and Wednesdays and Fridays at St. Maria Goretti Kitchen in San Jose targeting 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 InnVisions Montgomery Street Inn, located at 358 North Montgomery St. San Jose, CA . 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 six devoted employees.
Volunteers
We are blessed with a solid base of over 500 people who volunteer time, food, and supplies to operate Loaves & Fishes. Our volunteers annually donate over 11,000 hours to our organization, equivalent to 6 full time employees. Volunteers are always needed for our meal program, Children's Programs, Holiday Programs, and special events.