In-Kind Staff and Support

We have a small but dedicated staff, consisting of our Executive Director Alyce Hild, our Assistant Director Allison Petrie, a job counselor for our Opening Doors program, our Kitchen Manager and Kitchen Assistant, and our Sewing Instructor (Margrete Olsen). But while we are all very busy completing designated duties as well as pitching in wherever needed, we are able to successfully offer so many services due to our collaborations with other agencies and their personnel.

Loaves & Fishes Ministries receives thousands of dollars from generous supporters. We could not finance our developing programs without such donations. Yet there is another, equally vital kind of support we regularly receive from volunteers who donate their expertise and time to directly benefit our clients. These volunteers differ from those who regularly prepare and serve meals in the kitchen, in that these individuals represent Hartford area agencies that are trying to reach the same population that we serve at Loaves & Fishes Ministries. Each year we tally what we call our “in-kind” costs: professional volunteer services that occur on-site and serve our clients in a variety of ways. Numbers given are based on individual salaries and expenses, which we would incur if we had to hire these professionals for the many services they donate.

For example, for many years Hartford Hospital sent us free flu shots administered to interested clients by a doctor and four registered nurses who volunteered their time. These hospital personnel have also done free TB screening on-site. In all, these services saved us approximately $2,000. More intensive in-kind services are offered by Nancy Guyette, nurse from Charter Oak/Rice Heights who attends our facility every Wednesday during the mealtime. She sees any and all clients who have a particular health problem, or who need medical advice, a blood-pressure check, or a sympathetic ear. Her numbers indicate that she sees an average of almost 100 clients each month, at savings to us of $3,750. We have HIV/AIDS counselors from the Latino Community Services on-site weekly, a vital offering for our clients. Their services save us $2,000 annually.

Our Board of Directors often doesn’t receive recognition for the time and abilities that they donate to Loaves & Fishes. This group of professionals donates many hours a month spent in board and committee meetings, working on special events, raising funds, advising on program and financial matters, and helping to complete yearly tax statements for non-profit organizations. We value their time and efforts at over $30,000 per year.

We receive weekly large donations of bread, produce, and more from both Whole Foods and from Trader Joe’s, as well as from Shaw’s bakery. These products are of very high quality, often organic, and are wonderful supplements to our soup kitchen meals, as well as wonderful “take homes” for our clients as they leave the dining room. These annual contributions are valued at over $60,000, due to the amounts and the quality.

Finally, we need to mention the many volunteer groups who donate their time and gasoline to buying, making, and delivering bag lunches several times a month to Loaves & Fishes. These volunteer groups, from area churches and businesses, deliver bags stuffed with nutritious meals for our clients to take home with them. In addition, many volunteers pick up bread and baked goods from supermarkets and deliver them to our facility on a regular basis, free of charge. If we had to pay for these items and services, we estimate it would cost us over $35,000 each year.

There are many, many other in-kind donations that we are grateful for, and please be assured that even if you have not been mentioned here we are indeed thankful for your work on our behalf. In total, over $500,000 was donated to Loaves & Fishes Ministries in in-kind services in each of the last several years: a true measure of the generosity in the communities who serve our organization.