We are excited to present Mary Mckenna with our annual Volunteer of the Year Award. Since May 2015, Mary has volunteered with Loaves and Fishes in our pantry program. After remeeting a former student and pantry volunteer Corrine Flanagan in 2009, she was encouraged to start volunteering and working with PVLF.

Reflecting on her years of service with PVLF, Mary said the clients she has served have always been kind to her. After Mary complimented her bag, one client brought in a handmade bag on her next visit to gift to Mary. 

This year, Mary also started volunteering with our board at Loaves & Fishes, something she felt was an obvious transition after planning Empty Bowls and volunteering for so long. She enjoys working with the dedicated board members who believe in the mission of Loaves and Fishes and creative problem-solving.

In her free time, Mary spends most of her time outdoors, whether with her husband, horses, or hiking, something she does almost daily! She’s also active in the Pajaro Valley area, engaging with voter activism. Mary spent most of her working career as a Biology teacher at Gavilan College in Gilroy and Cabrillo College in Aptos, tying her interest in the natural world to her desire to teach others.  

“She has a way of making every client feel welcome and important at the time they’re served,” states pantry manager Jeanette Arias. “She’s the type of person always to have a smile on her face and resources for our clients.” 

We look forward to working with Mary for years to come. Thank you, Mary!

We offer our sincere thanks to all our sponsors and donors for making this year's Empty Bowls Campaign such a success. In total, we raised more than $90,000 to support the year-round operations of our food pantry and lunch programs. To view the complete list of sponsors, click on the image above.

Thank you for joining us in our vision of a well-nourished Pajaro Valley.

Hello friends!

There’s no better way to close out 2021 than with heartfelt appreciation and acknowledgment for our community of donors, sponsors, volunteers, staff, and board of directors. I am inspired by the outpouring of support and compassion for the community we serve; it fuels the work we do every day.

When a person has access to nutritious food, their quality of life improves. Loaves and Fishes exists to bridge that gap between food insecurity and accessibility. We offer a consistent lifeline for a hot meal on a cold day, supplemental groceries, and fresh produce to help families make it through the month.

The panty supported 3,000 families, and the kitchen served 26,500 lunches. More than 1,200 families signed up for our annual Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday Distributions - a record number of families received a complete prepare-at-home meal kit. All this would not be possible without the PVLF community of supporters; together, we can help our neighbors.

I would like to thank everyone for their support in 2021. I look forward to a new year full of hope and healthy food.

Sincerely,

Ashley Bridges