FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: August 25, 2011
CONTACT: Jody Bender, Community Relations Director jbender@loaves-fishes.org 630-355-3663, ext. 111
LOAVES & FISHES EQUIPS STUDENTS FOR SCHOOL Thanks to the generosity of the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church (OSLC) mission team and donors who earned of their plight online, 1,500 students entering grades K-12 whose families are served by Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry started the school year with new supplies. For the tenth consecutive year, Our Saviour’s led the effort to ensure Loaves & Fishes students had new backpacks and the basics to go in them. Nancy Couch, an OSLC mission volunteer, just coordinated her second school supplies effort. Aided by funds earmarked by the church’s mission team, Couch works tirelessly throughout the year to locate the best prices on backpacks and school supplies, networking with her vast network of fellow congregants and friends to purchase adequate amounts for the 1,500 students assisted this year, an increase of nearly 10% over 2010. Loaves & Fishes staff was gratified by the response to its Virtual Backpack Drive conducted online from July 18-31, th which garnered enough donations to purchase an additional 500 backpacks. On Saturday, August 6 , Loaves & Fishes distributed 600 backpacks and school supplies kits at its first Back2School Fair, which was attended by more than 350 families. Demand was brisk, and all 1,500 backpack kits have since been claimed. “We were gratified by the response to our first Back2School Fair,” said Executive Director Charles McLimans.”School supplies is one of our major children’s outreach programs, and we are grateful to Our Saviour’s and all the donors who made it possible to empower kids to succeed at school this year.” Several Pathways to Empowerment partners were attended the fair to provide information to students and their families. Samaritan Interfaith offered creative arts therapy and information on dealing with bullying, Literacy DuPage gave away books, Naperville Police Department provided safety tips, DuPage Health Department covered the importance and correct procedure for hand-washing, Benedictine University distributed information on school nutrition basics, District 203 talked to clients about planning for higher education, and Sharing Connections discussed referrals for furniture and clothing. Donated raffle prizes included Great Clips haircuts and haircut coupons, Supercuts haircuts, gift certificates for Subway sandwiches and a gallon of milk at Aldi, and passes to the DuPage Children’s Museum. Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry is ending hunger in our community by providing grocery services and offering on-site programs addressing the root causes of food insecurity. Programs offered include reading and language fluency, financial literacy, computer and job skills, benefits enrollment assistance, career counseling, health and nutrition programs, and mental health screenings. Supported by the generosity of our community, Loaves & Fishes is located at 1871 High Grove Lane in Naperville. Individuals interested in getting food or connecting to programs, volunteering, or making a donation can visit the website at www.loaves-fishes.org or call (630)355-3663. PHOTO CAPTION: Demand was brisk at the Loaves & Fishes Back2School Fair on August 6, as lines stretched the length of the building for much of the morning. That day, 350 families were served and 600 of the total 1,500 school supplies kits were given out.