Selfless Service to the Community Award

Gladys Willcox, Volunteer Manager of Fishes and Loaves Pantry, has been selected to receive the Rose Amanda Freeman Award from the Canaan Northwest Lions Club for selfless service to the community. Canaan NW Lions Club President John Mahoney and Treasurer Valerie Crane are pictured notifying Gladys of the award in late June. A banquet is being planned for August 12th at Pilgrim House in North Canaan. Gladys is one of three recipients to be honored that evening.

Gladys Willcox with Canaan NW Lions Club President John Mahoney and Treasurer Valerie Crane.

 

Calico Fair Benefit

The Calico Fair, held for many years in November at Pilgrim House, benefited Fishes and Loaves. We are optimistic it can be held in 2021 following last year when the pandemic made it impossible. 

Families always had a great time, including Lynne and her granddaughter Maeve in 2019.

Meals from Roma's

We were the beneficiary of a grant obtained by Northwest Litchfield Food Rescue that provided individual meals from Roma’s for our patrons in July, 2020. 

It helped a local business as well as Fishes and Loaves during the difficult times of Covid-19.

Covid19 pick up procedure

Due to the Covid-19 safety concerns we pack food boxes for delivery to clients' vehicles instead of letting them enter Pilgrim House."

For the safety of everyone.

 

Cooler for dairy products

We were thrilled to be the recipient of a beautiful cooler for dairy in October.

Amanda Freund, of Freund's Farm, helped us apply to New England Dairy to obtain the cooler.

Ready for Autumn at Pilgrim House

Early fall colors in our vegetable and herb garden signal the end of the growing season.

We are getting in the spirit of fall holidays and will distribute soup, oatmeal and other cold weather staples to our clients.

USDA Farmers to Families Program

Above is one of four weekly deliveries of 25 boxes we received through the USDA Farmers to Families Program during the month of October.

Each box of fresh produce, milk, dairy and processed meat contained food to feed a family of four for a week.

We are very thankful to Friendly Hands Food Pantry in Torrington for organizing the distribution for our area.

Community Food Production Garden

We are so thankful to Catie Aakjar for establishing a Community/Food Production Garden this summer as well as the many people that helped support and maintain it.

The bountiful 250-lb. harvest including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, herbs, lettuce, kale and squash was all donated to Fishes and Loaves.

Her spirit lives on

Volunteer Peg Cser’s spirit, who sadly passed away but will long live on here.

Local Eggs

Local farmers are very thoughtful in donating eggs when their hens produce an overabundance! 

We thank Farmer Foley, in particular, for his generosity.

Product labeling

Gladys explains product labeling to Louise.

Keeping things organized

Barb checks the squash while Gladys organizes the meat.

Meet our Director

Louise Riley joined as director in April, 2018.

Keeping things straight

Catie Aakjar greets clients and ensures that we maintain the proper paperwork.

Volunteer Manager

Gladys Wilcox is the volunteer manager of Fishes and Loaves. 

She oversees operation of the pantry, regularly picks up food from 

Stop and Shop, and brings items no longer suitable for clients to a local pig farmer. 

She also takes excess bread and pastries to the Corner Food Pantry in Lakeville.

Salvation Army summer help

We were very thankful to receive 25 boxes of mixed food bi-weeklly over the summer from the statewide Salvation Army. 

 This helped us offer patrons the food they needed."