Connecting Through Giving

For 18 years, Sacramento Loaves & Fishes supporters Shelly and Theresa Hollenbeck have led a grassroots effort to support Sacramento’s unhoused community during Thanksgiving. Their annual drive for Sacramento Loaves & Fishes provides hundreds of pumpkin pies and sleeping bags, helping make the holiday warmer and more hopeful for those who rely on us for homeless survival services during the freezing holiday season.

The idea came to Shelly Hollenbeck during a classroom discussion in the fall of 2006 at American River College. Her students were talking about Thanksgiving, and one student who had experienced homelessness shared how much he looked forward to the meal at Sacramento Loaves & Fishes. He mentioned missing out on pumpkin pie one year because it had run out by the time he got to the front of the line. This comment struck Shelly, who realized providing pies could be a simple but meaningful way to help.

In 2007, Shelly and Theresa took action by asking friends and family to pitch in for pumpkin pies to contribute to the Loaves & Fishes Thanksgiving meal. What began as a small gesture quickly grew into an expansive grassroots effort involving sleeping bags and an ever-expanding network of supporters. Each year, more people come together to make a difference.

When asked what keeps them going after 18 years, Shelly and Theresa point to the community of supporters who return every Thanksgiving to contribute. “As long as people keep coming back, wanting to do this with us, we’ll continue. We never expected to still be doing this after all these years, but we’re often touched by our network—many thank us for the opportunity to help,” Shelly says. “Most people want to make a difference but don’t know where to start. Doing it with family, neighbors, and friends makes it even more special.”

This effort highlights why community support is so important to the work we do here at Sacramento Loaves & Fishes. We receive many donations from individuals for our Thanksgiving meal every year and to know that folks like the Hollenbeck’s are gathering their personal connections to maximize their generosity is truly what the spirit of the season is about and that is just as sweet as pie.

Today is Giving Tuesday and a great reminder to continue sharing the connection of giving.