LOAVES & FISH

Living On Purpose in Downtown Peoria

A Day in the Life of
Loaves & Fish

26 Years of Loaves & Fish
and Counting

Recently, Director of Community Ministries & Mission, Dan Philips, gave us a look at what it means to serve our community on a Saturday morning at Loaves & Fish. We're sharing the article here so that you can learn more about what it means to make a difference in our neighborhood with dozens of volunteers and scores of hungry, hurting, needful people.
Time flies when you're doing good things. It's incredible to think that our Loaves & Fish program has now served the hurting and hungry of our community for a quarter century. Click here to read the story and passion behind 26 years of serving, loving, and healing in the Name of Jesus.

Feeding, Supplies, and Caring For Those In Need

We choose to stay in Downtown Peoria because Jesus called us to this neighborhood.

Loaves and Fish is a weekly feeding ministry providing food and a medical clinic to those in need each Saturday.  A ministry that began in 1994, Loaves & Fish  serves 150 - 200 guests weekly. Over 30,000 different volunteers have given their time to the Loaves and Fish ministry. Volunteers represent a variety of faith, and civic organizations, as well as individuals with a desire to serve.

Our food sources are numerous. In addition to food received from the Midwest Food Bank, much of the food (unused or close dated products) is picked up each week by Heart of Illinois Harvest volunteers from grocery stores, restaurants and schools. Loaves and Fish also accepts donations of non-perishable food items and toiletries for our guests to take home. Volunteers work during the week, taking in, warehousing and organizing donations.

The Loaves and Fish ministry currently provides groceries-to-go.

What to know about volunteering
  • The volunteer shift runs from 10AM - 1:15PM every Saturday
  • Volunteers are kindly asked to stay for the entire shift
  • Volunteers will be assigned a variety of duties


Food Pantry | 11:00 AM - 1 PM

Medical Clinic | First and Third Saturday of each Month    11 AM - 1 PM