We are in the neighborhoods! Loaves and Fishes Southwest Detroit (LFSD) is a non-profit collaborative providing small pantries with the funding to assist residents in Detroit break the cycle of hunger in their lives. The funding that we provide is in grant form and has been used to provide food purchases from Gleaners, as well as freezers and other durable equipment that will enable pantries to access and store food from a variety of sources. LFSD also secures meat and other frozen foods which are either delivered to or picked up by the pantries for distribution to their clients. Since meat is such an expensive component of pantry purchases this extra delivery enables these pantries to provide a wider variety of healthy foods than would otherwise be available.
Who we Serve
In 2022 we have expanded our service to include food pantries, cooked food outreach groups and soup kitchens located in the east side of Detroit and Westland. Lighthouse Mission, Veterans Haven, Deo Gratias Ministries Detroit, Palabra Vida and Elevate Detroit all receive our support.
Ste. Anne Pantry de Detroit serving zip code 48216 and 48209
Revitalization of certain parts of Detroit are apparent but the poverty and lack of adequate food resources in the zip codes served by St. Anne’s pantry has become even more pronounced. Those frequenting the pantry still live well below the poverty line demonstrating an apparent food inequality and insecurity. Due to the closure of a nearby pantry and soup kitchen the numbers of needy frequenting this pantry has grown resulting with an even greater need for pantry funding. St. Anne’s serves over 60 families per week.
The St. Stephen Pantry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church serves zip code 48210
This pantry is staffed by volunteers from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, DTE and pantry users. A good many of those seeking assistance in this area are seniors on a fixed income, limited resources and minimal transportation opportunities. They are able to walk to this pantry. In addition to the food provided by LFSD this pantry uses Gleaners, church funds and other donations to stock the pantry. Over 30 families are served on a weekly basis.
The Perry Center, an outreach of SS Andrew and Benedict parish, serves zip codes 48217, 48218, 48229, 48146, 48122
This center provides food, clothing, computer training, job training and job placement assistance. The computer training portion of this pantry is growing and their placement assistance because of this training is becoming successful in providing people from the neighborhood entry level positions in technology related positions. IN this way the Perry Center is working to not only break the cycle of hunger but to break the cycle of poverty. LFSD has been instrumental in helping to provide some of the funding to enable this pantry to continue in its fruitful operations.
The New Mt. Hermon Pantry serves zip codes 48217, 48218, & 48229.
This is a relatively new pantry is operated by the New Mt. Hermon Missionary Baptist church. Their newly renovated hall houses a food pantry which is open on the third Saturday of the month or by appointment. LFSD provided the funding for a new freezer enabling them receive and store meat and other frozen foods from LFSD as well as other donation sources. Freezers are essential in providing the healthier options for those in need. In addition to the pantry they are now providing lunches for seniors, 55 and older, 3 days per week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
St. Alfred, Taylor, Michigan & Lighthouse Home Mission Soup Kitchen in Westland.
Through our newly designed grant program LFSD is able to branch out to other small pantries in need and provide either funding or frozen foods both inside and outside Detroit Borders. St. Alfred was able to purchase a freezer and the Lighthouse Home Mission Soup Kitchen received frozen breakfast sandwiches from LFSD frozen food storage program enabling them to feed additional people a healthy and hardy breakfast on a weekly basis.
Pantry funding or frozen food is available by grant application. This application may be downloaded here.