Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa announced it will reopen its Martinez dining room for the first time since the pandemic on October 25.
Due to COVID-19, Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa (LFCC) was forced to shut down our dining rooms which left thousands of community members without a safe and cool indoor space to sit and share a nourishing meal. LFCC was able to pivot serving meals in “to-go” containers out its front doors and providing pre-filled bags with groceries from its food pantries.
On Monday, they announced they were thrilled to announce that the Martinez Dining room is now welcoming back indoor dining.
Sherry, one of their many clients here at LFCC, said “I am so grateful to Loaves and Fishes for helping me get through that difficult time in my life”.
LFCC is celebrating the reopening of its Martinez dining room to communal dining allowing for a hybrid service model accommodating both takeaway and indoor meal service. A ribbon cutting will be held on October 25 at 12:00 pm at the LFCC’s Martinez Dining room located at 835 Ferry Street, Martinez, California.
Food Drive
The organization also announced that Kaiperm Credit Union is hosting a food drive benefiting Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa and it’s an easy way for everyone to give back to those in need in our community. This food drive runs until January 19th, 2024, They are in need of bottled water and non-perishable food items like canned proteins, pasta & pasta sauce, canned fruits & veggies, rice & beans, peanut butter, and much more. Please no glass or expired items. Visit Kaiperm branches during business hours to drop off your donations!
- Shadelands Branch: 325 N. Wiget Lane, Suite 130, Walnut Creek, CA
- Downtown Branch:1550 Newell Ave, Walnut Creek, CA
About Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa
The mission of Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa (LFCC) is to provide community-based food programs and partner services that focus on basic needs. We nourish lives! Since 1983, LFCC has provided food insecurity relief to individuals, families, seniors, homeless, veterans, at-risk youth and people with disabilities. LFCC is a reliable and reputable food program in Contra Costa County. LFCC serves low to very low-income residents through 5 dining rooms in the county. LFCC provides a hot and nutritious meal and groceries to anyone in need.
LFCC is the only daily hot meal program in the county. LFCC has served nearly 6 million meals since its inception. More than ever before people are relying on LFCC for hot meals and groceries. Currently, LFCC’s dining rooms are serving more than 2,400 meals/day; four times as many meals per day as we did before the pandemic. Last fiscal year LFCC served 388,996 hot and nutritious meals and 241 tons of fresh produce and non-perishables distributed through the food pantries.
The Martinez Dining Room has served 145,220 meals to residents over the past year, staying open seven days a week to meet the local demand. Our doors are open to all, without exception. In the face of adversity, we’ve remained unwavering in our commitment to a simple yet profound goal: To Nourish Lives. However, the road has become increasingly challenging. Loaves and Fishes is currently operating under a budget deficit, and the cuts to Federal Programs (such as SNAP benefits for individuals), as well as a decline in donations, have presented us with a formidable uphill climb
LFCC’s dining rooms are strategically located in the county’s lower income communities in Central and East County with a high percentage of residents in severe poverty. The current locations are in Antioch, Martinez, Oakley, Pittsburg and Walnut Creek. In 2021, LFCC committed to an expansion plan through the mobile unit delivery program. LFCC also offers a free 12-week Culinary Arts Training Program for individuals experiencing barriers to employment