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Loaves and Fishes is a non-profit food pantry.

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We are a distribution agency of the Blue Ridge
Area Food Bank.

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In April and May we saw a real surge and it
was very much tied to the government shut

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down of work and so we saw about a 35 percent
increase in need from brand new houses.

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We are fortunately able to provide enough
food for all the people who come here for

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help.

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Hunger is a need in the area and the virus
can scare a lot of folks but that doesn’t

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alleviate the need for people to put food
on their tables and someone has to be here

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to be able to serve in that way.

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Our mission is to give food with kindness
and compassion and that’s really important

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for Loaves and Fishes is that people who need
our help don’t feel like they’re any different

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than we are.

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That’s deep in our hearts and we want to
make sure that everyone who volunteers or

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works here is in the same space.

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So much of life can easily just be focused
on myself, but stepping out and serving others

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is something that’s greater than themselves
and once you start doing it, it builds on

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itself and you start looking forward to it
and you realize the benefits of being selfless

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and prioritizing other people’s needs.

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If you can find time for that I think it will
be time well spent and I think you’ll find

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yourself the better for it.

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So anybody who’s interested in getting involved
in Loaves and Fishes or any other charity

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in the area, I encourage you to go to the
UVA Volunteer Center website and sign up.

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