Five Loaves Food Pantry

Five Loaves Food Pantry exists to serve the Hungry of the Virginia Peninsula. We accept people from all over the Peninsula and only ask that you be hungry in order to receive food. We have served people from Gloucester to Smithfield, but over 85% of the people we serve come from Newport News. In 2013, of the current 1,000 families we served, 982 qualify for Emergency Food Assistance by the USDA standards.

In 2012, Five Loaves Food Pantry distributed food to over 24,292 individuals for under $13,500. In 2013, we have distributed food to over 35,000 individuals for less than $17,000. We are a sustaining food pantry and as such see many families at least once a week; those with a more desperate need, i.e. homeless, we might see almost daily. Since we relocated to Olivet Christian Church in the Denbigh area of Newport News, we have increased the number of families we serve by 30%.

All of the money received by Five Loaves Food Pantry is used for the purchase of food, gas to receive food or serving supplies for the Hot Meal. This year we had to do some capital purchases in the way of Freezers, Shelving and Wagons for transportation and storage at Olivet Christian Church.

We are open Monday through Friday for Perishable Food Distribution from 11am to 1pm. On Tuesday evening, from 5:30pm to 7pm, we serve a Hot Meal and distribute shelf stable groceries (for three meals) and meat.

In addition to the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank, we receive food from Food Lion, Panera and Long Horn Steakhouse. This month we will begin partnering with WaWa and Pizza Hut for additional food products. In addition to food distribution, we also team up with Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Public Education and the home schooled for educational and hands on instruction regarding hunger, homelessness and food safety.

We also participate in the SHARE Program to encourage food recipients to do volunteering in their community as well to teach them the benefits of financial and food budgeting.

In 2013, we were recognized by the Peninsula Food Bank of Virginia with the Meal Ministry Award for the best program and also the Director, Br. Tim Luken, received the Unsung Hero Award for the work he has done not only with Five Loaves Food Pantry but also with numerous other pantries on the Peninsula.