On July 22, a group of Referral Link MN members and their guests stepped away from their usual networking activities and came together for a hands-on volunteer shift at the Loaves & Fishes warehouse in Minneapolis.
Surrounded by pallets, boxes, and rows of bright yellow bins, volunteers helped sort bulk donations received from Amazon and local grocery distribution centers. The group organized food, beverages, and personal-care essentials; prepared items for care packages and personalized grab bags; and sorted drinks that will be distributed to people experiencing homelessness throughout the region.
The work was active, collaborative, and sometimes a little messy—but it was also a meaningful reminder of what can happen when professional relationships are used to strengthen the wider community.
More Than a Meal
Loaves & Fishes has served Minnesotans experiencing food insecurity since 1982. Today, its work extends across multiple locations and programs designed to meet people where they are.
Its Community Meals program provides free prepared meals at more than 25 locations, with both dine-in and takeaway options. Through Street Outreach, the organization delivers sandwiches, groceries, and other essentials to people who may not have reliable access to a meal site. Its Community Distribution program provides families and individuals with items such as produce, dairy products, proteins, and shelf-stable food.
Loaves & Fishes also operates an extensive Food Rescue program, collecting usable surplus food from retailers, restaurants, manufacturers, distributors, farms, schools, and other community partners before it reaches a landfill. Those rescued products help support its meal sites, outreach efforts, community distributions, and nonprofit partnerships.
Building Relationships While Giving Back
Referral Link MN is built around meaningful connections, trusted relationships, and members helping one another grow. Volunteer experiences like this extend that same spirit beyond the networking group.
By working side by side, members and guests learned more about one another while helping Loaves & Fishes prepare donated goods for neighbors throughout the Twin Cities region.
Referral Link MN is grateful to everyone who gave their time—and to the Loaves & Fishes team for the opportunity to serve.