Loaves and Fishes: Building Longer Tables in Charlottesville
" Let’s build longer tables, not higher walls.” - Chef Jose Andres
By: Elizabeth Kim
Volunteers and visitors exchange smiles and fresh produce and pantry grocery bags that are distributed with care, replicating an ideal and healthy grocery shopping trip. At Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, volunteers seek to help the community with kindness and compassion.
Shelves in the pantry stocked high with toiletries and food items.
"Let's build longer tables, not higher walls," a quote from Chef Jose Andres that Jane Mills, the organization's executive director, always keeps in mind as she watches volunteers connect with families and neighbors.
This philosophy has guided Mills since she joined Loaves and Fishes in 2017. As the executive director, Mills has helped grow the organization from a $450,000 operation to managing a $1.2 million budget, now serving residents across Virginia through a team of seven full-time and eight part-time staff members. But for Mills, the numbers tell only part of the story.
"[We have] no idea what everyone's story is—[we] don't want anyone to feel less than [another]," Mills said, describing the organization's commitment to serving everyone with dignity and respect. This approach manifests in every aspect of their operation, from ensuring 65 percent of distributed food is fresh to considering cultural preferences in their offerings.
"Equity and respect is hugely important in what we do," she adds.
Through partnerships with local food banks and stores, Loaves and Fishes maintains a steady flow of fresh produce, bread, meat and pantry staples. At each visit, families and individuals receive a grocery cart of 100 pounds, thoughtfully assembled to provide balanced nutrition and variety. In 2023, the organization served about 130 households a day each week food was given out (food is given out 4 days/week), a number that continues to grow.
Kitchen within Loaves and Fishes building where RD Monica hosts cooking classes, showcasing how to work with ingredients that residents may get in their grocery bag.
But Loaves and Fishes offers more than just food—it nurtures community. Every week, Registered Dietician Monica hosts cooking classes in the community kitchen, featuring cultural dishes that celebrate the diverse flavors of Charlottesville. These gatherings, like the daily interactions in the parking lot, build lasting and personal connections.
"You know they trust you when they're excited to greet you," Mills said, drawing a parallel to U.Va's Honor Code—both systems built on mutual trust and respect.
The spirit of community extends naturally to the University, where students have discovered meaningful ways to connect with their broader neighborhood. Through volunteering, organizing donation drives or contributing what they can, students become part of the wider Charlottesville family.
"We don't ask our younger generation for philanthropic support early enough," Mills said. "Even if it's ten dollars, make a donation. Your passion will shine through."
While the pantry efficiently distributes food resources, certain needs persist. Sanitary supplies often run short, and Mills emphasizes that every contribution helps ensure they can "provide to people what they deserve to get." Each individual effort, no matter how small, adds to the collective impact.
Perhaps most striking is Mills's observation about those who come through their doors.
"People who have very little are oftentimes the most generous," Mills said.
In the warmth of these everyday exchanges—a smile, a greeting, a bag of fresh produce passed from one hand to another—Mills sees the true meaning of community unfold.
"There's a community bigger than where you are," she adds. "There's always more to think about than just you."
Volunteers stocking grocery bags with fresh produce for community members who come to the pantry.
For students interested in joining this circle of giving, Loaves and Fishes welcomes volunteers on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Visit cvillefoodpantry.org to learn more about their community kitchen, donation drives and volunteer opportunities.