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April 9, 2007 • VOL. 45, NO. 7 • Oakland, CA
Loaves and Fishes
celebrates 25 years
and 3 million meals to county’s hungry
Twenty five
years ago, Pauline Brisbin and Lucy Zendaez saw a hungry person scavenging
for food in a trash bin. Brisbin and Zendaez were so upset by this tragic
state of affairs they began cooking free hot meals for the poor in the
basement of St. Peter Martyr, their parish church in Pittsburg. They named
this new food ministry Loaves and Fishes.
Pretty soon, other volunteers began helping, not only from St Peter Martyr,
but from other churches as well.
Loaves and Fishes has steadily grown since its modest beginnings in 1983.
The organization now feeds approximately 14,000 guests per month at its
half dozen locations in Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, Bay Point, Antioch
and Oakley. On March 27, the organization served its three millionth meal
at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Concord.
The hot lunch was prepared by volunteers from St. Isidore Parish in Danville.
Seventh grade students from the parish school served the more than 150
guests who turned out to celebrate Loaves and Fishes’ quarter century
birthday. They included key sponsors, donors, volunteers, local politicians,
and clients
Recently identified by the Contra Costa Sunday Times as one of the most
efficient non-profit organizations in the Bay Area, the organization assists
many Contra Costa County residents who live below the poverty line. “That
comes to approximately 165,000 people, 25 percent of them children,”
said Rick Richardson, Loaves and Fishes’ executive director.
More than 1,000 volunteers from 60 congregations and service organizations
serve the food five days a week, 52 weeks a year. A catering kitchen in
Pittsburg provides hot meals to the Loaves and Fishes dining rooms. A
local food bank, several grocery stores and a farmer’s market make
food available. Almost 90 percent of monetary contributions from foundations
and private individuals go directly to those in need. Loaves and Fishes
also works in conjunction with other community organizations to provide
such social services as housing and counseling.
Among Catholic parishes assisting the organization with volunteers and
contributions are St. Catherine in Martinez; St. Joan of Arc in San Ramon;
St. Isidore in Danville; Christ the King in Pleasant Hill; St. Agnes,
St. Bonaventure, St. Francis of Assisi and Queen of All Saints in Concord;
St. John Vianney in Walnut Creek; Holy Rosary in Antioch; Santa Maria
in Orinda; St. Raymond in Dublin; and St. Anthony in Oakley. St. Anthony’s
is one of the six dining room site locations
Loaves and Fishes co-founder Pauline Brisbin now lives in Benicia. Lucy
Zendaez died a year after the organization began.
For further information about Loaves and Fishes, contact Rick Richardson
at (925) 837-8758 or go to the web site at: www.loavesandfishesofcontracosta.org
