Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays has a new mailing address! PO Box 680791, Charlotte, NC 28216

Need Food? We’re Here to Help.

First time to Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays? Help is just a phone call away.

Simply call (704) 523-4333

In a short-term crisis, a week’s worth of groceries from Loaves & Fishes can help mean the difference between paying for rent, utilities, medicine or feeding your family.

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Loaves & Fishes helps individuals and families who are experiencing a short-term crisis by providing a week’s worth of  nutritious groceries.

 

First time to Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays or not sure how to get a referral? We can help.

We Are Here to Help:

Food Pantries: To receive a week’s supply of nutritionally balanced groceries, along with fresh produce, meat and dairy, a referral is required. See “How to Get a Referral” below for more information.

  • First time to Loaves & Fishes or not sure how to get a referral? Our Social Services Team is happy to help! They can make referrals for first time clients or help you find a referral source. They can also help connect you with other support services. Call (704) 336-9548.

Pop Up Food Shares: Another food option is to receive a box of fresh produce and dairy at one of our Pop Up Food Shares. A referral is not required, simply an online registration.  For a list of upcoming Pop Up Food Shares and to register, click here.

Home Deliveries: For neighbors receiving a referral who do not have transportation to a food pantry or are home bound, please let the person making your referral know that you need a home delivery. Home deliveries are currently available three days a week.

How To Get A Referral:

In order to pick up a week’s supply of groceries, you will need to have a referral made for you by a professional who knows your situation.  Referrals can be made by a professional from an approved human service organization, government agency, school, college or university, doctor’s office or medical clinic, mental health service, or church or faith organization. First time referrals can be made by our Social Services Coordinator who can also help connect you with other support services.

For example:

  • If you have a caseworker at Crisis Assistance Ministry, Goodwill, the Charlotte Housing Authority, Veterans’ Services, Urban Ministry Center/Roof Above, or another human services agency, they can call in or log in a referral.
  • If you receive assistance through WIC, TANF, SNAP/EBT or Medicaid, contact your caseworker at the Department of Social Services, Social Security Administration or other agency to receive a referral.
  • If you have a child in the public school system, or if you are a student at a college or university, talk with the guidance counselor or the family resource center.
  • Your doctor’s office or medical clinic can make a referral, or (if you have been in the hospital) your care navigator or patient advocate can make the referral.
  • The pastor or staff of a church or other place of worship that you attend can call from a church phone.
  • Your employer’s Human Resources Department
  • Latin American Coalition has a hotline for Spanish speakers – 980-320-3743  Coalicion Helpline

For the referral we will need:

The professional making the referral will need to provide the following for each person in the household who would like to receive food:

  • names
  • birthdates

They will also need to provide your address and contact information in case we need to reschedule your appointment. We ask additional demographic information such as gender, race, disability status and veteran status, and monthly income, simply for reporting purposes.

Help is only a phone call away. If you have questions, please call us at (704) 523-4333.  

Please ask a professional familiar with your situation to make your referral, or they can call our offices at 704.523.4333 to get more information. Our phone lines are open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

FindHelp.org – a social care network that connects people and programs — making it easy for people to find social services in their communities

If you have other needs in addition to food help, visit www.FindHelp.org to search for free or reduced cost services like medical care, job training, housing help, clothing and more in your zip code area.

Loaves & Fishes provides assistance with groceries to be prepared in your home. You may visit a Loaves & Fishes pantry up to twelve times in a rolling 365 day period and must have a referral with each visit.