Loaves & Fishes of McDonough County Continues to See Growing Need
Loaves & Fishes of McDonough County has been in existence, serving countless families in need of food and other services in McDonough County for 30+ years. During the pandemic Loaves & Fishes was forced to shutter services for those families.
According to Maureen Wallen, the past two years have seen a great increase in families needing assistance. The latest numbers collected for June 2026 show an average of 524 families seeking assistance. Many of the clients include a number of elderly residents and many children, she noted.In December 2025, an average of 419 families were served even though Loaves & Fishes was forced to close during October and November due to lack of funds.
In 2022, following a reorganization, Loaves & Fishes reopened with a changed focus moving from a food pantry to providing monetary vouchers so clients can purchase food at designated local grocery stores. In December 2022 Loaves & Fishes served 135 families. One year later, the number of families seeking assistance grew to an average of 388 families per month. The average number was slightly less in December 2024 due to the temporary closure August through October 2024, but the average of those seeking assistance was 366 families.
“Loaves & Fishes has kept the doors open through grants and generous donations from the citizens of McDonough County,” Wallen added. “To make donating easier, we have worked with Clock Tower Bank to secure a QR code which can be found on the Loaves and Fishes Facebook page. We offer our deepest appreciation to the residents of McDonough County for the continued support of this important service.”
