‘Hunger doesn’t look just one way’: How Loaves & Fishes helps families get back on solid ground

Fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs. What might be a simple weekly grocery list for some may be out of reach for families just trying to make ends meet.

That’s where Loaves & Fishes Community Services in Naperville comes in.

“We are serving approximately 10,000 people every week through food assistance,” said Debbie White, senior director of Donor & Corporate Engagement for the nonprofit organization.

People in need living in DuPage, Kane, Will and Kendall counties can register for a Loaves & Fishes card, which not only allows them to shop at the Naperville Grocery Market at 1871 High Grove Lane, but also lets them take advantage of a variety of programs.

According to White, hunger not only undermines physical health, but also mental, employment and financial health. So Loaves & Fishes offers programs to help families get back on more solid ground.

Loaves & Fishes offers emergency rental and utility assistance, as well as help with public benefits and legal aid. They recently hired a dietitian to help with nutrition education, and they have partnered with health organizations to offer screenings for blood pressure and vaccines.

To help with employment, White said they have partnered with College of DuPage to offer English classes and job coaches to help fill out applications and resumes, and people volunteer as job coaches. The agency even has a car program that distributed 25 vehicles last year to families in need.

For mental health, Loaves & Fishes offers counseling and a therapist, who is at the market on Fridays to offer assistance.

“We want to be a one-stop shop in a way, so folks don’t have to go to so many places for help,” White said. “We still collaborate with other nonprofits so we can make sure to connect people to what they need.”

But food is at the heart of what Loaves & Fishes is really about. People who need food can shop in person at the market, online or do curbside pickup. The food is rescued from grocery stores and donated by the community, and Loaves & Fishes purchases about a third of it. Before it hits the market, it is first sorted at the organization’s distribution hub in Aurora.

Clients shop at the market like they would a grocery store “to promote self dignity,” White said.

To help keep the programs going at Loaves & Fishes, the organization will host its annual “Night to End Hunger” fundraiser Sept. 18 at the Hotel Arista, 2139 City Gate Lane in Naperville.

Joni Wiltz, director of marketing and communications, talks more about the organization and the fundraiser.

Q: What is Loaves & Fishes Community Services?

A: Loaves & Fishes Community Services is a registered 501(c)(3) organization serving about 10,000 people a week by providing healthy food and impactful programs for self-sufficiency. It is the largest food pantry in the state of Illinois.

Clients receive a healthy variety of food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, milk and eggs. The Loaves & Fishes CARES programs help clients become more self-sufficient through programs focusing on physical health, financial health, employment health and mental health.

Loaves & Fishes serves DuPage, Will, Kane and Kendall counties. Loaves & Fishes grocery market and administrative offices are in Naperville, and their food distribution hub is in Aurora.

Q: How many people do you serve each year?

A: In the 2025 Fiscal Year, we served 485,000 people.

Q: Where do the majority of your funds come from to support your work?

A: A majority of our funding comes through in-kind contributions, individual donors and government grants.

Q: Tell us about the “Night to End Hunger” fundraiser.

A: Loaves & Fishes Community Services is proud to announce its annual “Night to End Hunger,” a premier fundraising event dedicated to raising critical support for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity across DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties.

This year’s event will take place from 6:30-11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at Hotel Arista, 2139 City Gate Lane, Naperville.

Guests will enjoy an evening featuring elegant dining, inspiring stories of impact, and opportunities to bid on silent and live auction packages, including travel experiences, fine dining, high-end wines and more.

Throughout the evening, attendees will also engage with the mission of Loaves & Fishes and learn how their support helps create lasting change in the lives of local families.

More than a fundraiser, “Night to End Hunger” is a celebration of the collective impact that is possible when a community comes together. Through the generosity of donors, volunteers, corporate partners and advocates, Loaves & Fishes can expand capacity, strengthen partnerships and invest in services beyond food, so more neighbors can move from crisis to self-sufficiency.

Tickets are $375 or $3,500 for a table of 10. For information or to purchase tickets, visit loaves-fishes.org.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Events & Stewardship manager Tracy Katschke-Goss at tkgoss@loaves-fishes.org.

Q: How can readers help your organization?

A: You can help by spreading the word about food insecurity and the tremendous need in our community! Attend an event, make a donation, host a food drive, donate to the Virtual Food Drive. You can also make a difference by giving your time as a volunteer. For more information, visit loaves-fishes.org.

“Hunger doesn’t look just one way,” White said. “It is in our workplaces, schools and neighborhoods. It can be anybody. Food insecurity is reaching an all-time high as rents and food prices go up. Families are already stretched thin.”

Loaves and Fishes’ “Night to End Hunger”

When: 6:30-11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18

Where: Hotel Arista, 2139 City Gate Lane, Naperville

Tickets: $375 per person or $3,500 for a table of 10

Details and tickets: loaves-fishes.org

Sponsorship opportunities: tkgoss@loaves-fishes.org