Frequently Asked Questions
For Clients
Loaves & Fishes offers groceries from USDA's Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and also offers donated foods that we call "Pantry" groceries. We also participate in USDA's Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for people aged 60 or above.
USDA Groceries
You qualify for USDA groceries if any ONE of the following is true:
- Your monthly household income is 185% or less of the USDA’s Federal Poverty Level or $2,200 for a 1-person household);
- Your entire household receives SNAP or TANF; or
- You live alone and receive SSI or Medicaid;
USDA food is given once or twice a month for each qualifying household.
USDA Nondescrimination Statement
Pantry Groceries
Even if you don't qualify for USDA food, you are welcome to come get food that has been donated by local grocery stores and food vendors. We call these "Pantry" groceries.
Loaves & Fishes does not share any information about people who receive food at the pantry other than ages reported monthly.
Each household may receive food twice per month.
Loaves & Fishes provides approximately 100 pounds of food to each household, with larger households receiving more. Foods you can expect to receive include fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, milk, frozen meat, bread and pastries, and shelf-stable like pasta, rice, canned fruit and vegetables, beans, and peanut butter.
See our Nutritionist's Corner for a monthly Nutrition Newsletter, USDA and ChooseMyPlate resources, and easy recipes.
There is no age limit to receive food, although any client under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian when visiting Loaves & Fishes. Only one member of a household may collect food for that household each visit.
Seniors aged 60+, who provide proof of age and income, also qualify for the USDA's Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) which provides an additional 30 pounds of food each month.
Loaves & Fishes does not require ID or income documentation.
Required information: Name, address, phone, birthdate, and monthly income information for ALL household members.
To speed up the registration process, please print and complete the following form, and bring it with you.
Loaves & Fishes does not share any information given by pantry visitors with anyone other than ages of the people who receive food reported monthly to the USDA.
DOWNLOAD - New client general intake form
Formulario general para el uso del programa informático
Loaves & Fishes does not share any information given by pantry visitors with anyone other than ages of the people who receive food reported monthly to the USDA.
For Volunteers
Loaves & Fishes relies on the support of approximately 125 volunteers each week to help us inspect, sort, pack, and distribute fresh produce, meat, bread, and shelf-stable commodity items. Shifts are offered 6 days each week and range in length from one to four hours. Volunteers work alongside staff members and training is provided at the start of each shift, so no prior experience is needed for any of our jobs.
Because we are a working warehouse, all volunteers are required to wear close-toed shoes when volunteering at Loaves & Fishes.
Volunteer shifts range from 1- 4 hours.
All jobs require light to moderate lifting. Volunteers need to be able to repeatedly lift items ranging from a few to 20 pounds on/off our 3-shelf racks and pallets of varying heights. Volunteers are on their feet for the duration of the shift. To review job descriptions and physical requirements, visit our Volunteer Hub.
While most of our shifts require a volunteer to be at least 18 years old, we do offer a few shifts for volunteers starting at 16 years old. Please visit the Volunteer Hub to review job descriptions and age minimums.
Thoroughly review our Volunteer Handbook before your first shift.
Also, please remember all volunteers must wear close-toed shoes when volunteering at Loaves & Fishes.
Yes! Loaves & Fishes has seen an increase in clients who speak Arabic, Dari, Farsi, or Pashto, and Spanish (primarily). If you speak any of these languages, please email our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteers@cvilleloavesandfishes.org to learn more about how we can use your skills.
Loaves & Fishes is not currently scheduling groups for onsite volunteering. However, if your group would like to support the pantry with an offsite project, food and supply drives are always appreciated.
View our Wish List and contact our Operations Manager for more information and arrange the collected items' drop-off.
Loaves & Fishes DOES NOT accept volunteers who need hours for legal infractions or court-ordered/court-recommended community service.
For Supporters
Loaves & Fishes' operations are wholly funded by the generosity of individuals, families, businesses, churches, foundations, and civic and other non-profit groups in our community. We could not feed so many people in our community without our donors, no matter how big or small the contribution!
Donate to Loaves & Fishes with a credit card or PayPal online or send a check to 2050 Lambs Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901.
Please consider
Planned Giving
Legacy or planned gifts offer flexible ways to extend your philanthropy beyond your lifetime and increase the impact of your giving. If you want to help build the Loaves & Fishes’ long-term financial strength and ensure that it continues to serve those in need but you are not comfortable giving a significant portion of your assets today, consider making a charitable bequest under your will or revocable trust or a gift of retirement assets.
To make a charitable bequest to Loaves & Fishes, your attorney can insert a provision in your will or revocable trust leaving to Loaves & Fishes a specific dollar amount, a gift contingent upon certain events, or a percentage of your residuary estate (what remains after taxes, expenses, and other bequests have been paid). Because it is not payable until death, a bequest does not affect your assets or cash flow during your lifetime. A bequest also is revocable—you can modify your bequest if your circumstances change.
A gift of retirement assets, including IRAs and qualified plans (a 401(k), for example), can provide a tax-efficient way to support Loaves & Fishes. Loaves & Fishes will receive the assets free of income (and estate) tax, allowing 100% of the value to be applied to the charitable purpose you designate. To make Loaves & Fishes a beneficiary of all or part of a retirement account, you simply need to complete a new beneficiary designation form from your plan administrator. (Often, this can be done online.) You can modify your beneficiary designation at any time if your circumstances change.
And, if you are least 70½ years old, you are eligible to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA. A distribution to Loaves & Fishes will be excluded from your federal taxable income and will count toward your required minimum distribution if you have one.
Consult your legal or tax adviser if you are interested in learning more about planned gifts in general or have questions about the options described above.
Gift of Appreciated Stocks
Loaves & Fishes accepts gift of appreciated stocks through our account with Charles Schwab. Please contact Executive Director Jane Colony Mills at executivedirector@cvilleloaves.org or by calling 434-996-7868 for trade information.
Loaves & Fishes is fortunate to have received Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) state tax credits for the past six years and offers credits worth 50% of the total gift. However, tax credits are limited.
For information, please contact Jane Colony Mills by email.
In addition to our operating costs, Loaves & Fishes has capital funding needed each year to replace or upgrade equipment needed to run our operation (e.g., funds to replace box trucks used to pick up donations or make deliveries, forklift, or building roof). If you are interested in capital funding opportunities, please contact Executive Director Jane Colony Mills at (434) 996-7868 or executivedirector@cvilleloavesandfishes.org.
Does your company match gifts employees make to non-profit organizations? Leverage your contribution to Loaves & Fishes by applying for your company's match. Be sure to let Loaves & Fishes know if your gift will be matched and whether we need to file any follow up information with your company.
Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign: Virginia state employees can support Loaves & Fishes by selecting CVC Code 200168.
Kroger Community Rewards: Support Loaves & Fishes by using your Kroger Plus card.
Purchase L&F Merchandise: 100% of your purchase goes directly towards our operations budget.
Learn more about these easy giving programs here.
Loaves & Fishes accepts donations of food, including local garden excess in the summertime. Click here to learn more about In-kind donations.
Please note that, as a distribution agency for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Loaves & Fishes is often able to purchase food for much less than retail prices, so we can make your monetary gift go much farther. In 2022, a gift of $25 made it possible for Loaves & Fishes to give out almost 100 pounds of food.
Loaves & Fishes‘ finances are audited by an independent accounting firm annually.
Our financial reviews and tax returns can be viewed and downloaded from this website and at Guidestar.org.