Lifting Minds & Hearts Final Phase

Loaves and Fishes empowers low-income K-12 youth and their families in the Raleigh, NC area to overcome individual challenges in order to achieve healthier and more fulfilling lives.  as a out-of-school program, we use a long-term, relationally-based, and holistic approach to development that involves enrichment of the mind, body and spirit.  We strategically collaborate with schools, non-profits and other community organizations to provide critical support to the youth and families we serve. We currently serve up to 60 kindergarten through 12th grade students - see more about us at our website:  Loaves and Fishes Ministry

Each year we celebrate the successes of our children and their families in an exciting program and fundraising campaign called "Lifting Minds and Hearts."  In the initial stage of our campaign, we invited supporters and potential donors to join us in a presentation followed by the opportunity to pledge support.  We were pleased to receive nearly $45,000 through that effort - THAT'S ALREADY 90% OF OUR GOAL!!

In this final stage of our campagn, we are offering an opportunity for those supporters who were not able to participate initially, or who are just learning about Loaves and Fishes, to help us financially.  We hope that you will join the campaign and help us surpass our goal of $50,000.

With each of the pictures below, you will see our work and the wonderful children and families whom we serve. You can also contact us if you have particular questions or suggestions!  Welcome to the Loaves and Fishes Family!!
 

We spend much of our time working with the children to improve their literacy, mentoring them in academic subjects and giving them confidence in their abilty to learn.  A Facilitator costs us about $15,000 per year for each of our classrooms. Providing a healthy snack for our children each day as they arrive after school costs $100 per week.


Many of our children come from families that don't have resources to celebrate important occasions in their lives. We plan and support  such times with our children and encourage them to have fun in addition to doing well academically.  Fuel for bus transportation costs us  about $100 per week.  Providing an "outing" for a group of our children may cost between $50 and $200 per event.


We make sure our children have the resources to attend school and do their homework. That means finding donations to buy bookbags, notebooks, pencils and pens, flashdrives, calculators, and other supplies for all of ourchildren. It costs about $100 per child to  get them ready for class.


We accept children of all backgrounds into our program. Each child is deemed to be at risk of not achieving their potential and comes from a family with very limited economic resources.  We work understanding that all we do for our children is directed by God, and that our faith is an attribute that can be transferred to our children and their families as they overcome their obstacles. We were pleased to be awarded this recognition of our service from the North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs!


We rely heavily on volunteers to support us as mentors, tutors, classroom assistants, chaperones, office administrators and a host of other roles.  Each of them is critical to helping our children to identify their "spark:" the unique talent or interest that lights their fuse in the morning and that can turn into a career opportunity or life-long interest! We then develop that spark by matching the child with appropriate volunteers, providing resources or arranging outside support. The cost of doing this may be as low as $15 for drawing supplies to $75 for sports equipment.


We know that our families often have challenges that impact the ability of our children to be successful in school and life. We therefore work closely with our families to assist them in working with our partner schools, secure community resources to address family issues, and provide resources for the stability of the family. In return we are pleased that family members work with us to promote our objectives and support each other as memberrs of the Loaves and Fishes family. We spend about $125 per week for supplemental food for our families and an additional $250 per month for a Family Night meal and program with all of our children and their families.