The World Shut Down and Our Work Exploded – March News Update from Executive Director Tina Postel

It’s hard to believe that exactly one year ago, we were first facing the challenges of a pandemic head on. As you may recall, the world shut down and our work exploded.

This week marks one year since our transition to “prepacked” nutritious food boxes and our race to pack thousands of them with new volunteer group restrictions.

While we are proud of the great variety and quality of products we lovingly pack in our food boxes, we still long for the day that we can fully reopen our pantry buildings and return to the dignified “Client Choice” shopping experience for our pantry guests. As the availability of vaccines grows, we are optimistic that could be a reality in the months ahead.

A dose of that happy reality happened last week when one of our regular friendly Loaves & Fishes faces returned….

While you can’t see the smiles on their faces, Chris, Jay and Brosnan were thrilled to welcome volunteer Bob Wilson back to the warehouse for the first time since last March! For 18 years Bob faithfully volunteered several days a week, helping deliver groceries to our pantries, until COVID shut everything down. Now. at age 83 and fully vaccinated, Bob is back!!

March is National Nutrition Month

This month, Loaves & Fishes and ONE Charlotte Health Alliance (OCHA) are partnering to raise awareness about the importance of eating healthy, nutritious foods.

Nutrition Services Coordinator and Registered Dietitian Chasidie Glover has been visiting OCHA mobile food pharmacy sites to share information about healthy eating habits with recipes, tips for meal planning and answer questions regarding diet that our clients may have.

Here Chasidie hands out boxes containing ingredients for Sweet Potato Nachos

See Chasidie’s Recipes and Tips Here 

 

 

 

We’re Merging!

Just in case you missed our big announcement earlier this month, we are thrilled to share that we are merging with Friendship Trays, the primary Meals on Wheels program in Mecklenburg Co. We believe that becoming one united team will increase access to and distribution of healthy food and groceries for those in need.

This news story from WSOC-TV reporter Genevieve Curtis does a terrific job showing exactly how the joining together of Friendship Trays and Loaves & Fishes will have an even greater impact on feeding seniors and families.

For more information about the merger

While there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel, the economic impact of the pandemic for many will be long lasting. If you know someone who is struggling to make ends meet, please let them know that help is only a phone call away. Loaves & Fishes is here and ready to serve. Simply call (704) 523-4333.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support.

From one hunger fighter to another,