Despite cold weather and rain trickling down Thursday, volunteers at Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes distributed food and toys to more than 100 families in need.

“Everyone is helping us to get the job done in an orderly fashion,” said Loaves and Fishes Executive Director Brooke Johnson.

Volunteers bagged food such as turkeys, chicken, vegetables and pasta along with hundreds of toys, Johnson said. Various toys were donated to Loaves and Fishes from Toys for Tots, Holy Eucharist Church, Watsonville Community Hospital emergency room, Driscoll’s Strawberries, Couch Distributing and Valley Churches United . “The generosity has been amazing ,” Johnson said. “The donors have made it a much happier Christmas for those in need. We’re fortunate to have such support from the community to provide such gifts to children who otherwise might not have toys for Christmas .”

In 2005 Loaves and Fishes served more than 15,000 hot lunches and distributed more than 150,000 pounds of food in more than 3,550 client pantry visits. This year, they have served a similar number of lunch clients while providing emergency food assistance to 14 percent more households.

Richard Castillo, who has served as head cook at Loaves and Fishes for three months, said the outpouring of support for families in need touched him.

“It’s been a blessing for all of us here at Loaves and Fishes to see how the community has chipped in to help those in need,” Castillo said. “This is how we are serving through Jesus.”

Bob Montague, volunteer and president of the Loaves and Fishes board, helped hand out food to families outside and prepared to serve regular hot lunches to clients with other volunteers.

“It’s going wonderfully except for the rain,” he said. “We had a great group of volunteers yesterday . We appreciate all of the help we’ve gotten.”

Hailey Roush, a student at Delta Public Charter School in Santa Cruz, huddled under her pink hooded jacket as she helped hand out food with her mom Laura. Roush aspires to work for the Peace Corps eventually.

“It’s good to use the life you’re given to help people,” Roush said. “People in America are so fortunate to have an abundance of things. Why not share with everyone else?”

Community members interested in donating to Loaves and Fishes through the Good Times Community Fund Holiday Drive can do so through Dec. 31. Donors can send a check to the Good Times Community Fund at the Community Foundation, 2425 Porter St., Suite 17, Soquel CA 95073. Online donations can be made through the Community Foundation at www.cfscc.org.



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(Published in 12/22/06)

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