What do we do?
We are a mission of the Episcopal Church of St. Paul and St. James that serves the working poor and unemployed by providing a bag of groceries to each person who comes through our doors on Saturday mornings. No one is turned away and by the grace of God we now serve 250 to 300 people per week.
A volunteer helps shoppers to fill their bags.
Other services?
We are continuously blessed to be part of God’s work through this expanding mission. In addition to the food pantry, we offer a nurturing child-care environment every Saturday morning where parents can place their children while they shop at the food pantry. This very special mission, called the Mustardseed club, is a vital resource for parents and children in the New Haven community.
There’s more!
We also have a Clothes Closet, which is open monthly on every first and third Saturday. On average, the Clothes Closet serves approximately 170 people per month. Clothes are obtained through donations. Volunteers work together, sorting, washing and ironing seasonal clothes for men, women and children.
Clothes Closet founder Joan Whitaker on the left and volunteers.
There’s still more!
Yale medical students offer basic check ups and referrals regularly and free of charge. Our guests truly appreciate the care they receive from these young future doctors. According to the medical students, their work for Loaves & Fishes plays an important role in their learning experience, providing them a hands-on opportunity to help those in need.
How do we do it?
Volunteers at Loaves and Fishes.
You probably guessed that we don’t do this alone. Loaves & Fishes works because so many people care. Volunteers come from miles around to lend their hands and hearts. They welcome our guests, hand out food, hand out clothes, and give of themselves. Every Saturday morning we work and pray together in peace and harmony. It is a human story connected to the divine, where the perfect circle of giving and receiving is complete.
We also rely on charitable donations from private and corporate donors. Please make checks payable to Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry and send them to the following address:
The Episcopal Church of St. Paul and St. James
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry
57 Olive Street
New haven, CT 06511
Hours:
Saturday mornings from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (Doors open by 9:00 a.m. during bad weather.)
Volunteer Information:
Volunteers are always welcome! We ask that you be at the church (back entrance) by 8:30 a.m. We are usually finished by about 11:00 a.m.October 8, 2007: Added the sermon of 07-10-07 to the SERMONS page. If you are interested in joining us, please call us. Many thanks and God’s profound love and peace to you!
Sermon of October 14, 2007 by Jonathan "Jack" Gilette.
Article in GOOD NEWS on Loaves and Fishes by Karin Hamilton
