Caring For Those In Need
We choose to stay in Downtown Peoria because Jesus called us to this neighborhood.
Loaves & Fish (L&F) has been providing food for those in need in downtown Peoria every Saturday since 1994. And yet, we provide so much more!
L&F food ministry includes a well-stocked supply of meat, drinks, fruits, vegetables and breads. A medical clinic is offered by the University of Illinois School of Medicine and students from Bradley University. Abuse and addiction/ recovery referrals are provided by Trillium Place. We also offer toiletries (toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, feminine products, etc). A prayer ministry is available for anyone with special requests. And, fun activities are available for children ages 0-16 while adults wait for food.
Alive is a Saturday morning worship service at 10:15 AM – all are welcome and bring a friend!
L&F food ministry includes a well-stocked supply of meat, drinks, fruits, vegetables and breads. A medical clinic is offered by the University of Illinois School of Medicine and students from Bradley University. Abuse and addiction/ recovery referrals are provided by Trillium Place. We also offer toiletries (toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, feminine products, etc). A prayer ministry is available for anyone with special requests. And, fun activities are available for children ages 0-16 while adults wait for food.
Alive is a Saturday morning worship service at 10:15 AM – all are welcome and bring a friend!
Whether you are a guest needing assistance or a volunteer looking to help,
Loaves & Fish is the place for you!
What to know about volunteering
●Volunteers are needed every Saturday from 10AM - 1:15PM.
Help is needed to greet guests, assist guests with disabilities, distribute food, talk with guests in our parking lot, assist with security, trash pick up outside of the church. and engage children in activities.
●Individuals and groups are welcome
●Volunteers are also needed during the week for food intake and sorting
●Signup now at “Volunteer to Help”
What to know if you are a guest
Alive Worship Service | Every Saturday | 10:15AM - 11:00AM
Food Pantry | Every Saturday | 11:00AM - 1PM
Medical Clinic | First and Third Saturday Every Month | 11AM - 1PM
Toiletries | Second and Fourth Saturday Every Month | 11AM - 1PM
●Volunteers are needed every Saturday from 10AM - 1:15PM.
Help is needed to greet guests, assist guests with disabilities, distribute food, talk with guests in our parking lot, assist with security, trash pick up outside of the church. and engage children in activities.
●Individuals and groups are welcome
●Volunteers are also needed during the week for food intake and sorting
●Signup now at “Volunteer to Help”
What to know if you are a guest
Alive Worship Service | Every Saturday | 10:15AM - 11:00AM
Food Pantry | Every Saturday | 11:00AM - 1PM
Medical Clinic | First and Third Saturday Every Month | 11AM - 1PM
Toiletries | Second and Fourth Saturday Every Month | 11AM - 1PM
What Happens When Volunteers Touch the Lives
of People in Downtown Peoria
30 + Years of Serving those in Need
November 1994.
Prior to that time, the Catholic Worker House was the only feeding site available in Peoria on Saturday.
Tragically, a fire struck the Catholic Worker House, and they were forced to close.
A call was made to Peoria First UMC to see if we could step in, temporarily, to feed those in need. After all, we are in the heart of the city with a wonderful gathering space equipped with a large commercial kitchen, and a large, active congregation that believes in supporting our community. How difficult could it be to serve a few people for a few Saturdays until the fire damage was repaired?
Unfortunately, the damage to the Catholic Worker House was so great, they could not reopen.
Prior to that time, the Catholic Worker House was the only feeding site available in Peoria on Saturday.
Tragically, a fire struck the Catholic Worker House, and they were forced to close.
A call was made to Peoria First UMC to see if we could step in, temporarily, to feed those in need. After all, we are in the heart of the city with a wonderful gathering space equipped with a large commercial kitchen, and a large, active congregation that believes in supporting our community. How difficult could it be to serve a few people for a few Saturdays until the fire damage was repaired?
Unfortunately, the damage to the Catholic Worker House was so great, they could not reopen.
November 24, 1994.
After posting pictures of loaves of bread and fish around Peoria, and notifying the surrounding churches and other feeding sites, the Loaves & Fish Community Ministry was born. On that date, we served our first meal to 60 guests.
Guests were also invited to select nonperishable food items from a small pantry table.
Today, Loaves & Fish has grown to serve an average of 300 guests each Saturday. Our pantry tables today look more like a small grocery store. This ministry has become larger than we ever imagined, and it takes an average of 60 volunteers each week to serve. Volunteers come from Peoria First UMC; other local churches; area middle, high school and college students; service groups; and those serving community service hours. We even have families that serve together to celebrate a family birthday or special day.
Together, we serve as the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus as one family under a loving God.
Loaves & Fish has evolved into a community needs ministry. Many years ago, our guests came to us and said, “You are taking care of feeding our bodies each week, but we are still spiritually hungry.” Many of those we fed on Saturday had no way to get to a church on Sunday.
With that, we began a small Bible study that grew and evolved into a weekly worship service.
Today the ALIVE worship service has an average attendance of 75 guests each week.
The Thomas Phillips Medical Clinic is open every Saturday and provides health care and health information to our neighbors; saving lives in some cases. Thanks to a relationship with the Methodist College of Nursing, the clinic hosts fourth year medical students
that serve alongside our volunteer nurses.
Just like the loaves and fish parable in the Bible, we have never run out of food, and have always had enough volunteers to serve.
For more information about serving or donating to Loaves & Fish, please contact the church office.
After posting pictures of loaves of bread and fish around Peoria, and notifying the surrounding churches and other feeding sites, the Loaves & Fish Community Ministry was born. On that date, we served our first meal to 60 guests.
Guests were also invited to select nonperishable food items from a small pantry table.
Today, Loaves & Fish has grown to serve an average of 300 guests each Saturday. Our pantry tables today look more like a small grocery store. This ministry has become larger than we ever imagined, and it takes an average of 60 volunteers each week to serve. Volunteers come from Peoria First UMC; other local churches; area middle, high school and college students; service groups; and those serving community service hours. We even have families that serve together to celebrate a family birthday or special day.
Together, we serve as the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus as one family under a loving God.
Loaves & Fish has evolved into a community needs ministry. Many years ago, our guests came to us and said, “You are taking care of feeding our bodies each week, but we are still spiritually hungry.” Many of those we fed on Saturday had no way to get to a church on Sunday.
With that, we began a small Bible study that grew and evolved into a weekly worship service.
Today the ALIVE worship service has an average attendance of 75 guests each week.
The Thomas Phillips Medical Clinic is open every Saturday and provides health care and health information to our neighbors; saving lives in some cases. Thanks to a relationship with the Methodist College of Nursing, the clinic hosts fourth year medical students
that serve alongside our volunteer nurses.
Just like the loaves and fish parable in the Bible, we have never run out of food, and have always had enough volunteers to serve.
For more information about serving or donating to Loaves & Fish, please contact the church office.
Loaves & Fish in a Mission Moment
Loaves & Fish is just one of our Community Ministries at Peoria First. Take a moment to watch this Mission Moment.
