Loaves & Fishes recognizes volunteers

On national Make a Difference Day, Naperville-based Loaves and Fishes Community Services recognizes several of its volunteers who devote their time to help make the community a better place every day.

Loaves and Fishes Community Services is a hunger assistance and anti-poverty organization that relies on a team of more than 1,500 volunteers to provide groceries and essential supportive services to more than 2,800 suburban Chicago families each month.

Among the army of volunteers are Brad Mortimer, Kate Schultz, Nancy Bankemper, and Wayne Avery and Dianne Ottney-Avery.

Previously president and CEO of an industrial fabrics company, Mortimer has volunteered with Loaves and Fishes since 2012, providing assistance to help clients complete and maximize their tax returns.

Earlier this year, Schultz prepared and donated more than 100 birthday bags to Loaves and Fishes to help celebrate clients' children on their special day.

A Loaves and Fishes volunteer since 2008, Bankemper loves becoming close with clients and even helped choose a name for a client's child.

Avery started volunteering with Loaves and Fishes in 2008, and Ottney-Avery joined him in 2010. Avery is a greeter who welcomes clients with his warm smile and friendly demeanor, while Ottney-Avery volunteers with client registration and the organization's Empowerment Team.

Loaves and Fishes has volunteer opportunities seven days a week in a variety of capacities, but is in need of bilingual volunteers, especially those who speak Spanish. Volunteers can learn more or sign up online at loaves-fishes.org/volunteer/.