It’s staggering to see our newest statistics from Fiscal Year 2023. Last year, Loaves & Fishes served nearly 200,000 people; this year, we served over 339,000 people. Out of these, 106,700 are children, and over 40,000 are senior citizens. Food costs have increased by over 10%, and this inflation disproportionately hurts families that are low-income. For families who are struggling, food is the first expense they cut. As we delve into these numbers, it becomes evident that the need is real.
Last year, Loaves & Fishes served over 5,000 people a week. This year, we are serving over 8,000 people a week. Unfortunately, the food supply has had trouble keeping up with the increased demand. Last year, 56% of the food we provided was rescued. This year, only 33% of the food we provided was rescued, 27% was donated, and 40% we’ve had to purchase. We are now buying more food than is donated or rescued.
This past year was the first full year of operations in our new food distribution hub. This 30,000-square-foot building in Aurora has been a game changer as we have significantly increased food access to our community. Last fiscal year, we distributed over 4,500,000 lbs. of food. This year, we have distributed over 6,400,000 lbs. of healthy food.
It’s a common misconception that people who need assistance are unemployed. Most people who come to Loaves & Fishes are hard-working families trying to provide the basic necessities for their families. 62% of the people we serve have at least one working family member. The Loaves & Fishes CARES programs arranged or provided over $618,700 in emergency rental assistance to keep over 1,100 people from being evicted, up from $590,000.
While these numbers paint a troubling picture, they also serve as a call to action. It is up to us to come together, support those in need, and work toward long-term solutions. By addressing food insecurity head-on, we can create a community where every individual has access to the nourishment they need to thrive. It’s a challenge we must collectively embrace, ensuring that there isn’t even one person in our community who goes to bed hungry.
