No referral needed at Loaves and Fishes pop-up shares

CHARLOTTE — Loaves and Fishes is holding pop-up food shares in addition to its weekly mobile food pantries.

A food share was held Wednesday morning at the Assistance League of Charlotte on South Tryon Street. The biggest difference between the two is a referral is not required for a food share.

Reginal Pratt received a box of fresh produce, dairy and meat at the Assistance League of Charlotte.

"March 27 was the last day I worked," Pratt said.

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He said the food will go a long way, because his wife is working part time and money is tight.

“Oh yes, this is going to help us out tremendously,” Pratt said.

Loaves and Fishes launched the pop-up food shares last month. They're funded by federal funding and supported by Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Unlike a mobile pantry where you need a referral, you can register yourself.

“I just went online,” said a woman, who did not want to be identified. “Very easy. Just regular questions, name, address, all that. My sisters don’t have computers and all that. It’s just getting the food and then passing it along, sharing it with the rest of my sisters.”

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Loaves and Fishes workers said the need for food continues to grow in our area, especially among certain groups. From March to June, 47% of their clients were Latino. During the same time last year, that number was 15%. They said 39% of their clients were Black, which was down from 65%.

“This neighborhood in particular has astronomical food insecurity rate, so we wanted to be where people are,” said Tina Postel, the executive director of Loaves and Fishes.

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The nonprofit serves about 150 people at each food share and more than 300 at each mobile food pantry.

Postel said if people forget to register before the pop-up, they can do so on-site.

Starting next week, Loaves and Fishes will have food shares at some Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools summer feeding sites. Families picking up breakfast and lunch for their children can also get a box of food.

If you would like to register for a pop-up food share, you can do that here.

Cox Media Group