Enfield Loaves And Fishes Begins Springtime Challenge Fundraiser

Press release from Enfield Loaves and Fishes:

March 16, 2023

Enfield Loaves and Fishes, a long-standing community soup kitchen, has begun their second largest fundraising effort of the year. The success of the annual ‘Springtime Challenge” dictates how smoothly the Kitchen can operate through the summer months.

The organization has graduated from providing 15,625 meals in 1992 to 70,125 meals in 2022. Partnerships with community members are so strong that they were able to provide over 5,000 meals to children’s programs in Enfield. An annual report has been created in collaboration with Letterpress Arts and is available online and by request to info@enfieldloavesandfishes.org

Executive Director Maya Nicole Matthews says, “As we approach the 40th anniversary of Enfield Loaves and Fishes, we can reflect on how far the organization has come since it was started by Victor and Gloria Scussel in 1983. A little charity effort that supplied twenty after school lunches has blossomed into a well-respected and vital service for our community. None of the good work that Enfield Loaves and Fishes does would be possible without the generous volunteers and donors that are so giving of their hands and hearts to make our community a better place.”

The cost of food and supplies had dramatically increased coming out of the pandemic, and winter has been brought financial and physical hardship to our vulnerable populations. Enfield Loaves and Fishes continues to strive to provide free, home cooked meals 7 days a week with over 150 meals per evening.

“We hope to accommodate all of those in need by ensuring our community is able to focus on paying their bills because we provide them food every day. We hope to sustain the transient and homeless population by giving them a safe place of respite a for a little while in a pleasant atmosphere.” Matthews says. “Our staff is heartened and ready to advance the organization even further in 2023 to make sure that we are providing equitable, comfortable, and welcoming services to our friends, families, and neighbors struggling with food insecurity. We need the support of our community long after the holidays end, because hunger has no season.”

The Springtime Challenge lasts until April 30th. Please visit our website for information about donating, more about the organization and how to get involved by volunteering www.enfieldloavesandfishes.org. Checks can also be mailed to P.O. Box 544, Enfield CT, 06083-0544.

This press release was produced by Enfield Loaves and Fishes. The views expressed here are the author's own.