This article is brought to you in partnership with Charlotte Five and Loaves & Fishes. 

In this season of plenty, it can be tough to remember that people in Mecklenburg County face hunger and food shortages. Started in 1975, Loaves & Fishes offers help to individuals and families in need through its over 30 food pantries around the county.

When you support Loaves & Fishes, you are helping friends and neighbors in need — maybe even someone you know or work with.

Thanks to the Levine-Sklut Family Foundation headed by Lori and Eric Sklut, your donation of any amount goes even further with a dollar-for-dollar match up to $25,000 through Jan. 31, 2019.

Ida and Keith

The unexpected can and does happen, and sometimes that means facing hunger or a food shortage. Unexpected job loss, reduction in work hours, being sidelined by medical or other bills or failure to secure permanent housing can mean empty pantries.

Ida’s husband made a good living for 30 years before being put on disability. For her and their three children, that often means making hard choices at the end of the month —paying bills or eating. Ida and her son visited the pantry to help bridge the gap and keep the family fed. “You don’t realize how much you are changing someone’s life. Without it, I don’t know what I would do for food for my kids,” she says.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a full-time student at Central Piedmont Community College, works full time and does internships to enhance her area of study.

After paying for rent, bills, books and school tuition, she is often left with little to no money for food. At the urging of a trusted teacher, Elizabeth turned to Loaves & Fishes to help during a difficult time. Her story is not unusual, she says.

“There’s a lot of people who you’d never think are going through this — students who go full-time and they’re working and they’re doing everything right, getting great grades, but not having food at home, and they’re afraid to ask.”

Marissel and Yeshua

Marissel’s husband is between jobs, and the family is struggling to pay rent, bills and cover the basics. The opportunity to shop for a week’s worth of groceries at Loaves & Fishes provides some much needed relief. “This little bit of extra help means I won’t have the stress of worry,” she says.

Your donation really adds up through Jan. 31, 2019

Through Jan. 31, 2019, the Levine-Sklut Family Foundation will match each and every donation to Loaves & Fishes up to $25,000. Eric Sklut says he believes in the mission of Loaves & Fishes and what they do to fight hunger in the area. “We support Loaves & Fishes due to their ability to crystalize the needs and directly assist those with food insecurities,” he says. “They are not on the streets, they are part of their community, and the way Loaves & Fishes approaches this allows families to retain their dignity.”

Help hungry neighbors in your community and make the feel good holiday spirit last way into the new year. Give to Loaves & Fishes any time between now and Jan. 31, 2019, and your donation will be matched by Lori and Eric Sklut.