ABOUT

ABOUT

As the largest homeless service provider in Sacramento, Loaves & Fishes is a 501(c)(3), charitable, non-profit organization dedicated to providing warm meals, essential survival supplies and services for nearly 1,000 adults and children daily. To keep our services barrier-free, we do not solicit or accept government funds and are supported instead, by the investment of individual and private donations from the greater Sacramento community. In the spirit of radical hospitality modeled after activist and leader of the Catholic Worker Movement, Dorothy Day, we refer to people seeking our services as “guests” creating a space of welcome, respite, and belonging.

PLANTING THE SEED

"That's what I think Dan and I did," Chris says. "We planted this seed, and then people came with everybody's work, volunteering and donating and everything. It's now a huge tree."

Loaves & Fishes is a place of radical love. It began with a former nun and a former priest who (true story) got hitched! Together, Chris and Dan Delany catalyzed their love into years of activism through the Catholic Worker Movement and served alongside activist leaders to achieve greater equity and justice from Los Angeles through the Central Valley Region. The Delanys organized efforts with Cesar Chavez during the United Farm Workers Movement of the 1960's, and at the influx of the AIDs epidemic in the 1980's, they opened their home to people who were denied basic public healthcare. As true allies in the fight for a more just society, the Delanys continuously protested against U.S. foreign war policies, and were arrested over 30 times for civil disobedience.

chris

Chris and Dan's move to Sacramento coincided with an immense need to feed the hungry by serving sandwiches out of their car trunks, and in the process, they became critical activists and storytellers for poverty justice. What started as a simple midday meal for Loaves & Fishes in 1983 grew to include breakfast, showers, laundry, a school for homeless children, mental health counseling, legal advice, on-site resources from community partners, and much more. Today, we are governed by a board of directors selected from Loaves & Fishes and community members who have demonstrated compassion towards the needs of those who are homeless and living in poverty. Dan remained committed to justice up until his passing in 2015 at the age of 80. Chris volunteered in the Dining Room nearly every day until the pandemic made it a health risk for her to be here - she was incredibly frustrated that she had to stay home. In September 2023, Chris died peacefully of old age, surrounded by her family. She was 90 years old.

In our 40 years of service, we have greatly expanded to 16 programs and services across a 4.5 acre campus, and welcome nearly 1,000 adults and children daily. Loaves & Fishes recognizes the dignity and spiritual destiny of each person with the hope that through our attitude of radical love, we can nourish not just the physical needs of those who seek services, but also their human need for acceptance, respect, and friendship.

THE 36 THINGS

David Leeper Moss, a Methodist minister, was the director of Brother Martin's Ministries at Loaves & Fishes from 1989 - 1994 (the program evolved into Friendship Park in 1991). Before he left Loaves & Fishes, David kindly shared with us "36 things" he learned in working with our homeless guests. Today, The 36 Things is our campus manifesto. We hope you will benefit from his wisdom in your relationships with our guests and each other. Click the image to enlarge.

When Loaves & Fishes opened its doors on August 8th, we served about 70 people in all." The number of the hungry who come to us has grown to the point that on Oct. 31st, we served about 375 meals, with the usual daily number during October running between 250 and 350 meals.

Dan Delany

1983 Loaves & Fishes Thanksgiving Newsletter

Today, we serve over 130,000 meals annually in addition to, survival supplies, respite, and friendship. Read our annual report to learn more about our impacts to homelessness in the Sacramento community.

BOARD MEMBERS

Officers

Tim-slf
Tim Blaine
President
Retired Attorney
Ja'net-slf
Ja'net Blea
Vice President
Longtime Volunteer/ Loaves & Fishes Dining Room
Dorothy
Dorothy Smith
Treasurer
Real Estate Broker
Don
Rev. Don Fado
Secretary
Retired United Methodist Pastor

Directors

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Rev. Lucy Bunch
Unitarian Universalist Minister
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Deacon Rommel Declines
Principal Business Manager
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Lauren Solander
Physical Therapist
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Sue Supple
Retired Teacher
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Tiffanie Synnott
Attorney

Staff Leadership

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Milani Alexander
Sister Nora's Place
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Rebecca Anderson
Dining Room
Shannonslf
Shannon Dominguez-Stevens
Maryhouse
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Naomi Cabral
Development
Vince-slf
Vince Gallo
Genesis
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Mario Garcia
Jail Visitation & Tommy Clinkenbeard Legal Clinic
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Mike Gilbert
Maintenance
Angela Hassell
Angela Hassell
Executive Director
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George Kohrummel
Friendship Park
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Cyndy Pressley
Volunteer Coordinator
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Julie Rowley
Finance
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John Swierzbin
IT