About Us

The idea of a food pantry originated with Fr. Dave Beaudry, the then Associate Pastor of Holy Cross Church, and the Holy Cross Human Concerns Committee. Several of the churches in Kaukauna gathered together at the urging of Fr. Beaudry in Christian love to address the issue of hunger and need that was observed in the Kaukauna area.
Through an ecumenical endeavor, The Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry opened in Kaukauna on March 5, 1985, with Pam Vandera as the coordinator. The operations were first headquartered in the basement of Holy Cross School. In 2004, regular food pantry volunteers, along with the help of 15 Kaukauna and Xavier High School students, two Boy Scout troops, and a handful of Kaukauna Kiwanis Club members, helped relocate the pantry to the St. Mary site. In 2007, Betty Wochinski took over as the coordinator.
On the evening of Sunday, April 10, 2011, several tornados hit Kaukauna (a total of 12 tornados hit across the state of Wisconsin). Nearly 200 homes/buildings were damaged. Damage to Kaukauna's south side was severe, which included the St. Mary School site of St. Katharine Drexel Parish. Due to damage, and the cost of repairs, it was decided that the site would be razed. Operations at the pantry were halted as they scrambled to find a place to call home.  Within one week, the pantry was moved, and up and running, thanks to the U.S. Oil Foundation who offered the former Family Dollar building rent-free for six months. The pantry paid for heat, water, and electricity. Home Depot was of great assistance to the pantry after the tornado and, along with about 100 community volunteers, assisted in moving the pantry to its temporary new location.
In June 2013, the building that was the pantry's temporary home on Crooks Avenue was sold and another move was needed. They were offered a 4-year lease of a building at 2011 E. Main Street, Little Chute.
In March 2020, the covid pandemic hit and the food pantry continued to serve the needs of the community. In December 2020. Anne Schuh took over as coordinator of the pantry along with the continued support of many community volunteers.  
Many area churches, businesses, organizations, schools, and groups, as well as individuals, donate food and/or money to the pantry. The Boy Scouts and the mail carriers each hold an annual food drive and give the donated food to the Loaves and Fishes to help stock the pantry shelves. Without the tireless work and dedication of each and every one of these people, the pantry would not be here today.