Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays Grocery and Meal Delivery Programs Continue to Grow

Home Grocery Delivery Program continues to grow.

 

Since January of this year, we have delivered groceries to the homes of more than 14,000 people, a third being children and seniors, surpassing the total number of grocery deliveries in 2020!

Danielle Moore, Community Outreach Director for Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays, oversees our home grocery delivery program. Recently, when delivering a week’s worth of groceries to a client, she asked him how he was doing. His answer? “Embarrassed.” Danielle assured him that he need not be embarrassed, that this is exactly why we are here. Danielle shares, “No one wants to need help but at the same time no one is truly self-sufficient. We all rely on others at one time or another. I’m just glad we can be here to offer a hand up when someone needs it most.”

Home Meal Delivery Program also continues to grow, doubling the number of recipients receiving meals over just one year ago.

Peter Dekbar is one of the newest staff members to Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays but delivering meals is anything but new for Peter. It’s in his DNA. Among Peter’s most treasured childhood memories is riding along with his grandparents on their meal delivery routes for Friendship Trays. It’s how they began their mornings, two to three days a week during the summer, with 5-year-old Peter and his two older brothers in the back seat. Peter loved it and when he grew up, he couldn’t wait until he could be a part of this himself. “My grandfather was and is my hero because he is always paying it forward. I want to do what I can to carry on his efforts to help others.”

Today, as a meal delivery driver, Peter delivers to homes, apartments, motels – any and everywhere and is quick to point out that everyone is so nice and welcoming. The big part of delivering meals has always been the friendship part, but right now during the pandemic, that is hard. But as Peter says, “Even though you can only visit through a screen door, there are still smiles, still a lot of ‘thank you’s’ and ‘have a great days’. I want to continue to do this for a very long time!” Although his grandfather is no longer able to deliver meals himself, adds Peter, “He’s very happy that I am keeping this up.”