Editor’s Note: The Nonprofit Spotlight is NowKalamazoo’s collaboration with area nonprofits, providing space for them to highlight important work that might not be known to Kalamazoo County at large. Know of a group that should be in the NowKalamazoo Nonprofit Spotlight? Submit a nomination here.
Nonprofit name
Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes
Year formed
1982
Mission & population served
The mission of Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes (KLF) is to feed hungry people and engage the community in the fight to end hunger. KLF was organized in 1982 by members of several downtown churches concerned about increasing requests for food assistance by people facing food insecurity. Instead of addressing this community issue on an individual basis, the congregations banded together to share resources and create an organized response to local hunger. Over the years, food distribution sites expanded to include area community centers, social service agencies, and schools to serve more of Kalamazoo County. While KLF still has strong partners and supporters from the faith-based community, it is a secular organization that serves everyone, regardless of their belief system. Over time, KLF has become the primary provider of charitable food assistance in Kalamazoo County and the largest independent food bank in Michigan. KLF works hard to reduce hunger through not only our existing programs, but also through anti-hunger advocacy and community partnerships.
KLF serves anyone in Kalamazoo County and surrounding communities facing food insecurity. Food insecurity is when individuals and families have limited or uncertain access to adequate nutrition to live a healthy and fulfilling life. There is no typical profile to someone facing food insecurity – it can impact anyone during any time of their life. Food insecurity exists on a spectrum ranging from low quality of nutrition to reduced food intake and frequently skipped meals.
In Kalamazoo County, over 35,000 individuals experience food insecurity, including nearly 9,000 children and teens. Poverty is a significant factor leading to food insecurity, and 13.3% of Kalamazoo County residents are living at or below the federal poverty line. The poverty rate is 27% in the city of Kalamazoo. Additionally, 26% of households in Kalamazoo County are above the poverty threshold, but earn below the ability to meet the basic cost of living in the area. Families continually face difficult decisions on how to survive on limited budgets, frequently choosing between food and utilities, medical care, housing, childcare, and transportation. People who have exhausted other means need additional “gap-filling” food resources so that they may lead healthy, active lives and avoid the detrimental impact of food insecurity, especially on the mental and physical development of young people…