The Grocery Pantry Program (GPP) is our primary food assistance distribution program.           

How does the Grocery Pantry Program work?

Currently, Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes distributes food through 26 Grocery Pantry Sites, including those located in the outer county areas (Galesburg, Richland and Vicksburg), and a site at the main Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes’ facility.

• People in need of food assistance should call our “Need Food” line at 343-FOOD (3663) to request same day service. To provide you with better service, our call-center is now open from 9 am-1 pm. Please call as close to 9 am as possible to ensure your appointment.
• People can call every 30 days for service and will be provided with four days worth of food.
• The household member picking up the order needs to present only their I.D.
• If there is a need for additional food resources during the same month, a referral request from a social service agency may be made (referral agencies please call 488-8918).

Current Trends

Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes has monitored current trends and sought ways to address constantly rising requests for assistance. During the early years of operation, we served up to 600 households a month. Now, we distribute food to about 300 households a day (800-900 individuals).

In 2012, Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes provided food assistance to more than 120,000 people throughout Kalamazoo County. Some of the folks that received these groceries had never asked for assistance before and may continue to need help providing food for themselves and their family in the coming months. Even as experts are reporting that the recession has ended, we expect this recovery period to easily last into 2013.