Bellevue food pantry releases annual report

BELLEVUE — A local nonprofit listed some of its most notable achievements from last year. Bellevue-based Fish & Loaves, a faith-based volunteer organization that provides supplemental food for those in need in the Bellevue area, released a 2023 annual report. Here are some of the organization's highlights from last year: • The pantry has provided food to 2,171 households, almost double the previous year's. The total number of people served was 5,751, with 1,716 children. • Major food drives were held at various locations, including Bellevue Elementary School, Bellevue Middle School, Miller's Drive-In, and St. John's Lutheran Preschool, among others. • The pantry also received food and donations from local churches and businesses, including fresh fruit, vegetables, and turkeys. Fish and Loaves members Bev Ommert, Roy Swartz and Colleen Swartz, along with other volunteers, attended a Fall forum at Second Harvest Food Bank, where volunteers received civil rights training. On Feb. 16, 1983, the Bellevue Fish & Loaves Food Pantry was established as a nonprofit organization to help individuals and families who need food assistance.