Photo courtesy Sally Neel
The organizer’s of last weekend’s Loaves and Fishes volunteer appreciation take a moment to pose for a photo. The organizers are, left to right, Kenny Rogers, Roger Cooper, Nancy Crouse (Loaves and Fishes president), Siri Cooper, Doug Neel and Marlene Meiners.
St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church was the venue for Loaves and Fishes’ volunteer appreciation dinner last Saturday evening.
The evening celebrated the gifts of time, talent and dedication of volunteers from 16 churches and civic organizations, along with three support groups, who help provide weekly hot meals to thousands of people over the course of the year.
Loaves and Fishes is a nonprofit organization that provides a free hot lunch each week at the Catholic Parish Hall downtown.
“This is no small task,” said Loaves and Fishes’ president, Nancy Crouse. “We could never feed 250-325 people each week without the help of many hands and many big hearts. Our volunteers bring more than food to the table. They bring a generous spirit of kindness and hospitality to all they serve.”
Organizations that were honored include: Weminuche Audubon Society, John Paul II Catholic Church, Pagosa Cowboy Church, Centerpoint Church, Community United Methodist Church, Archuleta County 4-H, Mountain View Homemakers, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs, Pagosa Mountain Morning Rotary, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Pagosa Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Veterans for Veterans of Archuleta County, Archuleta County Victim Assistance Program, Pagosa Springs Youth Center, Cub Scout Troop 508 Webelos, the Oliver Family and the Queen Family.
The evening included pizza, beer, wine, coffee, and root beer floats. Volunteer organizations were presented with certificates of appreciation from Loaves and Fishes by Crouse.
“The evening was a wonderful opportunity to actually see just how many people work to make our organization run so smoothly and effectively,” said Crouse.
Loaves and Fishes opens the doors of the downtown parish hall from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday and welcomes all who come to partake of a free, hot meal.
Volunteer organizations provide food, cook, set tables, serve, wash dishes and clean the parish hall following the meal. Each meal includes meat, vegetables, bread, desert and cold or hot drinks.
“No one is turned away. We serve everyone who comes to enjoy the meal individually at their table,” said Crouse. “For some, this is the only hot meal they will eat all week. For others, it is an opportunity to sit with friends from all over town and enjoy a meal and conversation.”
Loaves and Fishes depends on the generosity of members of the community in both time and treasure.
“There is no question about it,” said Crouse, “The people of Pagosa Springs take care of their own. We could not exist without our volunteers and the generosity of our donors. It is an extraordinary privilege to be a part of such an amazing organization.”