Loaves and Fishes

Loaves and Fishes is a non-profit association organized to help feed the hungry of the Clarksville TN area. The outreach began in 1983 when several ladies from the Trinity Episcopal Church served soup on Wednesdays. Realizing the need for a daily lunch, these ladies, along with the cooperation of First Presbyterian, Immaculate Conception and Madison Street United Methodist Churches, Organized "Loaves and Fishes." From this beginning, the soup kitchen has grown into an ecumenical, community-wide project that serves on average 150-200 meals daily. The kitchen has been housed at the First Presbyterian Church Activities and Outreach Center at 215 Foster Street since January 1999. Loaves and Fishes also has a Food Distribution Center that distributes food to over 22 agencies and churches that help the needy. All foods not used by the Soup Kitchen are donated to other local agencies through the Food Distribution Center. The "Soup Kitchen" is an all-volunteer (except for two part-time paid employees) organization. A Board of Directors helps formulate policy, consider new members, and approve staffing and supervision of the kitchen operation, promote public understanding and support of the organization's programs, and help provide volunteers. Kitchen managers supervise teams that prepare and serve the meals. All team members are volunteers who come in on the same day each month. A different team comes in everyday led by a kitchen manager. Most teams consist of church members with a few teams made up from individuals. The teams arrive at the kitchen by 8:00 am. Prepare the meal to be served between 10:30 and 12:00; then they clean up the kitchen for the next day. Dedicated volunteer drivers pick-up donated products daily from area restaurants, supermarkets, and businesses. The Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen operates on donations from local churches, civic organizations and private individuals. Local supermarkets and stores donate breads, pastries and produce. Citizens of Clarksville donate vegetables from their gardens and leftovers from banquets. An annual Postal food drive provides the major portion of can goods for the entire year. A letter campaign to raise funds is conducted during the months of March and April to help meet financial obligations for the year.