Loaves and Fishes provides food for today, hope for tomorrow | Giving Grace

CLARKSVILLE, TN.  (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – It all began over 40 years ago with a small group of women from Trinity Episcopal Church. They saw the needs of those dealing with hunger and started serving them free soup and sandwiches at the church. They called it Loaves and Fishes.

Before long, the nonprofit soup kitchen outgrew Trinity, so it moved to First Presbyterian Church nearby. And when it outgrew that site, it moved to its current much-larger standalone facility on Crossland Avenue, where it continues to make a difference by providing food for today and hope for tomorrow.

John Durnell, executive director of Loaves and Fishes Clarksville, said they regularly get over 200 guests, but it can spike to well over 300 on any given day for their free lunchtime meal, served from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

The organization is closed on Sunday but still supports those who are hungry with their free Blessing Bags. Durnell said some of the food they receive cannot be made into a cafeteria-style meal, but it makes a perfect to-go bag. The Blessing Bags are given out on Saturday so those in need will have something to eat on Sunday. Along with their bag of food, people can also receive personal hygiene items and toiletries.

Food and more

Loaves and Fishes relies on a number of community partners to provide food. Durnell mentioned their work with local grocery stores along with many restaurants in the area. “We rescue food that would otherwise be lost,” Durnell said.

The daily services offered by Loaves and Fishes are dependent on many caring people. “We’re always looking for volunteers; we’re always looking for ways of sharing what we’re doing in the community and hopefully opening their eyes to the needs around them,” Durnell said.

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Along with providing free meals, Loaves and Fishes offers other services, with shower facilities available on site and barbers who often volunteer to do free haircuts. Both the Mathew Walker Mobile Health Clinic and YAIPAK Outreach stop by on occasion and share their support.

Preparing for future

The Loaves and Fishes facility at 825 Crossland Ave. was specially designed for what the organization provides. This year they are celebrating five years in the facility and looking ahead to the future while working to erase their building debt. Durnell said they have about $1 million left to pay it off. “Our goal is to engage the Clarksville community and help us retire that mortgage. It would take a lot of pressure off our financial obligations to be able to do that,” he said.

Durnell extended an invitation for the community to pay them a visit, enjoy a meal and learn more about Loaves and Fishes.

“One of the best ways is just to get in line and have a meal with our guests,” he said. “There’s something about having a meal and breaking bread together, it takes down a lot of barriers and it’s a connection point,” Durnell said.

To find out more about Loaves and Fishes and their service to the community, to volunteer, or to make a donation, visit loavesandfishestn.org, go to their Facebook page, email info@losvesandfishes.org, or call 931-645-9020.

Giving Grace, sponsored by Grace Dental, is a Clarksville Now series showcasing local nonprofit organizations.