Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa Reaches Milestone of over 6 Million Meals Served

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Oct. 26, 2024) — Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa (LFCC), a community-based nonprofit providing nutritious meals to individuals and families in need, has reached a significant milestone: more than 6 million meals served. This achievement comes as food insecurity continues to rise, exacerbated by the lingering effects of the pandemic, the high cost of living in Contra Costa County, and the end of pandemic-era relief programs even though demand continues to rise. These challenges have intensified financial hardships for many low-income and homeless individuals, making access to healthy, nutritious food more critical than ever.

LFCC’s hot meal program addresses these pressing needs, serving between 3,000 – 4,000 meals daily through five dining room locations in Antioch, Pittsburg, Martinez, Oakley, and Walnut Creek, as well as through its Karen Introcaso (KI) Mobile Unit, which delivers meals to hard-to-reach areas in Contra Costa County.

In the last fiscal year, LFCC served 514,639 hot meals (32% increase over the previous year) and distributed more than 260 tons of groceries, providing much-needed relief to Contra Costa’s most vulnerable populations.

Open to everyone

LFCC is open to everyone and has learned through its recent voluntary client survey results that show a rise in need and the demand for LFCC’s services has increased significantly:

• Clients relying on LFCC for more than half of their food needs grew by 43%.
• The percentage of clients for whom LFCC provides their only hot meal rose by 20%.
• Disabled clients served by LFCC increased by 70%.
• Homeless clients grew by 15%.
• New clients (those receiving services for less than 2 years) increased by 44%.

LFCC survey results also highlight LFCC’s substantial positive impact on residents’ lives, such as:

• Improved access to nutritious food: 8% of clients reported improved food security.
• Financial relief: 9% experienced reduced financial strain due to LFCC’s services.
• Enhanced stability: 51% of clients felt more stable in their daily
• Sense of community and belonging: 6% found connection and companionship through LFCC.
• Healthier lifestyle choices: 49% reported making better health decisions thanks to LFCC’s meal program.

As LFCC commemorates this milestone, the organization remains steadfast in its commitment to fighting hunger in Contra Costa County, ensuring that everyone—regardless of their circumstances—has access to nutritious food. However, with rising utility and labor costs, limited kitchen capacity, and declining donations, the pressure on our operations is greater than ever.

As demand for our services continues to rise, we are facing a serious budget shortfall. To sustain our mission, we are calling on the community for support—through donations, volunteering, and advocacy—to help ensure our neighbors receive the warm, nutritious meals they need.

For more information on Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa and how to get involved, visit www.loavesfishescc.org.