Feeling hunger or knowing where our next meal will come from is not something that many of us will have to face. But it is a real fear for many of our friends and neighbors. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 37 million people in this country live in food-insecure homes. And more than half of those suffering from hunger are children. Last year 892 families from Littleton, Ayer, Devens, Shirley, Harvard, and Groton were provided with food from the not-for-profit organization Loaves & Fishes.
Loaves & Fishes is more than a food pantry. It is a support network giving clothing, emergency shelter, and referral services to people in need. In order to do this, they rely heavily on the generosity of the local community. Often, the pantry will become critically low on items that are staples in most of our households. Recently, that shortage came in the form of cereal. Loaves & Fishes reached out to Hildreth Elementary School (HES) students for help, and the students didn't let them down.
On Tuesday, Nov. 23, at a schoolwide assembly, Paul Niemira, Loaves & Fishes food coordinator, walked in to see every student in the HES gymnasium holding a box of cereal. Overall, they presented him with 551 boxes of cereal.
"What a sight. I was truly choked up," he said.
The pantry distributes at least 500 boxes of cereal a month. Niemira usually buys generic cereal because of budget constraints. Each client is given two boxes.
"It may not seem important that the cereal collected was name-brand, but it is," he said. "When you are a client at the pantry, it is usually because you are in transition. You could be a family who just lost their income and home. Or you could be a child and mother who just left an abusive situation. It is at times like that when seeing your favorite cereal might be the highlight of your day. It normalizes things for them. I have seen people hug a box of cereal before. Sometimes it's about more than feeding the hungry. It's about providing happiness."
Food drives like the one at HES are integral to the success of Loaves & Fishes. Niemira encourages groups to go to the Loaves & Fishes website and find a critically needed item and focus on that.
"For example, right now there is a scarcity of rice and rice meal mixes, such as Rice-A-Roni," he said. "If a collection effort is put together, the key to success is simplicity. That way people don't have to think about a list of items. It is easier for them to remember one thing when they are out shopping."
The holiday season is when Loaves & Fishes receives the most support. The donations collected now help sustain operations throughout the entire year.
"Giving starts to dry up in February and March, just as the need for services begins to increase," says Jon Panek, Board of Trustee member. "The end of the school year brings new challenges for families. Often our youth clientele receive a lunch at school. When summer comes, families are struggling to put an extra meal on the table. They turn to us for help. I encourage people to keep us in mind throughout the year."
Loaves & Fishes is developing new ways for patrons to do just that. Currently, there are several ways people can help. They can donate items needed or volunteer their time. They also have several options for making monetary donations including Paypal—an e-commerce tool that enables the transfer of money via the Internet right from the Loaves & Fishes homepage. Another option is adding Loaves & Fishes to your bank's automatic bill pay for monthly allotments.
Loaves & Fishes Director Patricia Stern says they are always working to develop new ideas for giving. "Our newest fundraiser enables people to donate in honor or memory of someone special," she says. "We have designed small, credit-card sized paper shopping bags with handles. On one side is the name of the person the gift is for and on the other is our logo. The recipient can hang it from a Christmas tree as an ornament or even put it on a magnet on their refrigerator. It is a unique gift that expresses the true spirit of the season."
She continues, "We have a generous support network. The food drive at HES is a prime example of that. That was the essence of what we do. Reaching the children is so important. They can wrap their minds around the idea of what a box of cereal means to someone. They are our future. Instilling giving without judgment is critical to the sustainment of our organization."
Individuals wishing to make holiday food donations should contact the pantry by Dec. 19. Food baskets filled with these items will be distributed on Dec. 20.
The holiday season at Loaves & Fishes also involves the opportunity for clients to "shop" for gifts for each other. On Dec. 11, a "Shop for your Parents" event will be held. Items such as gloves, perfume, tools, winter hats and scarves, watches, men's clothing, slippers, warm socks, sports-related items, and like-new jewelry are needed. Drop-off and pickup information is available by contacting Marie at 978-772-7510 or Joan at 978-772-4440. And donations of new and unwrapped children's books, clothes, toys, and games are being accepted for the Dec. 13 "Shop for your Kids" event. For gift donation drop-off or pick-up information e-mail Lfshop4yourkids@gmail.com or call 978-772-4627. Wrapping paper, bows, and tape are also being accepted. Questions regarding pantry needs, donating, volunteering, or services can be answered at loavesandfishespantry.org or by calling 978-772-4627.