We greatly appreciate your support!
Ways to Give
Builders Circle, Planned Giving, Give Online or by Check, Giving Programs
The number of people needing food assistance rose by 19% in 2022 as the costs of living in the greater Charlottesville community, including the cost of food, have increased. Your support helps us respond to growing numbers of pantry visitors—we gave free groceries to an average of 100 households on each of the four distribution days in 2022. Thus far in 2023, the average number of households on each distribution day has grown to 130.
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry has provided free groceries to people in need in Charlottesville since 2004. Because of our partnerships with the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and several local grocery stores, we can "stretch dollars” to provide as many groceries to as many people as possible. Your donation of money will help us meet our community's needs. Donations are tax-deductible.
Thanks to all our donors, no matter how big or small the contribution! We could not do what we do without you! For a list of 2022 donors, visit the Annual Report page.
Give Online
Please use our secure PayPal page to donate online by credit card or with a PayPal account.
Consider scheduling an ongoing monthly donation to help sustain our mission throughout the year.
We greatly appreciate your support!
Mail a Check
If you prefer to donate by check, it may be sent to:
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry, Inc.
2050 Lambs Road
Charlottesville, VA 22901
Join the Builders Circle
The Builders Circle is our core group of supporters who give $1,000+ annually for several consecutive years. Loaves & Fishes relies on this group for 25% of our annual operating budget. To join the Builders Circle, download and complete the brochure below and send it to the address provided, or come by the Pantry to drop it off and meet our staff.
Your Impact:
$1,000 = 3,690 pounds of food distributed
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 Stock
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.
NAP Tax Credits
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry participates in the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) Virginia Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP), which was created by the General Assembly in 1981 to encourage businesses, trusts, and individuals to make donations to approved 501(c)(3) organizations that serve low-income persons. Since July 2014, Loaves & Fishes has been fortunate to be awarded an allocation of tax credits that we give at 50% of the gift value to donors who give a minimum of $1,000 to support Loaves & Fishes' programs to feed the hungry (i.e., for a gift of $1,000, a donor receives $500 in tax credits).
If you are interested in receiving NAP credits for a donation between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, please contact Executive Director Jane Colony Mills at executivedirector@cvilleloaves.org or by calling 434-996-7868.
Giving Programs
Kroger Community Rewards
If you have a Kroger Plus card, go to www.kroger.com/communityrewards, select "View Details" under I'm a Customer and sign in. (If you haven't used the site before, create an account using your Kroger Plus card number.) On the Community Rewards page, click/tap Enroll Now. Enter your name and address. Enter DL975 to select Loaves & Fishes. Now, when you shop with your card, Kroger donates to the Pantry!
*If you don't have a Kroger Plus card, sign up for one at the service desk at any Kroger store.
If you are a Commonwealth of Virginia employee, donate to Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry using CVC code 200168. We greatly appreciate your support and the support of your fellow employees!
Does your employer have a Matching Gift Program?
If your company has a matching gift program, request access to the Matching Gift form (paper or online).
The donor then completes the form after making their initial nonprofit contribution as a way to request a match from their employer.