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Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry (Ocean Beach Emergency Food, Inc.)
We are working out of OB Joyfull Church located at
1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. San Diego, CA 92107.
Annual Statement – 2025
Concise takeaway: Loaves and Fishes distributed 17,071 bags of food and recovered 239,344 pounds of groceries in 2025, thanks to a powerful network of volunteers, corporate partners, churches, and community supporters. Rising need across San Diego makes this work more urgent than ever.
Our Mission in Action
In 2025, Loaves and Fishes continued its commitment to feeding our food-insecure neighbors with dignity, compassion, and consistency. As the cost of groceries, gasoline, and housing continued to rise across San Diego, more families turned to community food programs for help. We responded with determination, flexibility, and deep gratitude for the partners who make this work possible.
This year, we distributed 17,071 bags of food to individuals and families throughout our community — each one representing a household that did not have to choose between food, rent, or medicine.
Where Our Food Comes From
Loaves and Fishes relies on a diverse and resilient network of food sources to meet growing demand:
- San Diego Food Bank— Provides free and low-cost meat, bread, produce, and other food items.
- Community Food Drives — Local churches and organizations donate thousands of pounds of food each year, often responding to our requests for high‑need items like peanut butter and cereal.
- Purchased Goods — We purchase canned goods and other staples to ensure every bag is complete and nutritionally balanced.
- Grant‑Funded Essentials — Grants from partners such as Bombas allow us to provide socks, a deeply needed item for many of our clients.
- Fresh Rescue Program — Through Feeding San Diego’s food recovery initiative, grocery stores set aside edible surplus food for us to collect, weigh, and record.
Corporate Food Rescue Partnerships
Nearly all fresh food we distribute is “rescued” through our corporate partnerships, coordinated by Feeding San Diego, the local branch of Feeding America. These partnerships prevent high quality food from going to waste and redirect it to families who need it most.
Weekly donations come from:
- Target (Newport Ave., Ocean Beach)
- Gelson’s Market (Turquoise St., Pacific Beach)
- Trader Joe’s (Liberty Station)
- Grocery Outlet (West Point Loma Blvd.)
- Jensen’s Market (Point Loma)
- Bimbo’s Bakery
Thanks to these generous stores, we can serve hundreds of people each week with fresh produce, dairy, meat, prepared foods, and baked goods.
In total, Loaves and Fishes recovered 239,344 pounds of food in 2025 — a powerful testament to what coordinated food recovery can accomplish.
The Volunteers Who Make It All Possible
Our work is powered almost entirely by volunteers. Their dedication is the backbone of Loaves and Fishes.
Volunteers:
- Pick up food from grocery stores
- Sort and organize donations
- Weigh and record recovered food
- Assemble non‑perishable bags on Wednesdays
- Pack and distribute groceries on Mondays
Their commitment ensures that every pound of food is handled with care and every client is treated with dignity.
Rising Need in San Diego
New federal rules are reshaping the food stamp program (CalFresh). According to the San Diego Union (6/1/26), rising costs and policy changes may cause up to 93,500 San Diego County residents to lose benefits.
This shift will likely increase demand at food programs like ours. We are preparing now.
How Loaves and Fishes Is Responding
To meet the expected rise in food insecurity, we are:
- Strengthening existing corporate partnerships and seeking new ones
- Working with neighborhood churches for food drives and financial support
- Applying for grants to fund major purchases of cold storage
- Leveraging our lease agreement, which allows us to pay no rent until 2027 — freeing resources for essential equipment like tables, wagons, and cold‑storage units
- Continuing to build a strong volunteer base to support expanded operations
These steps position us to respond quickly and compassionately as more families seek help.
A Community Effort
Everything we accomplished in 2025 was made possible by people like you — volunteers, donors, church partners, corporate partners, and neighbors who care deeply about those facing hunger.
Your prayers, your financial support, and your hands‑on help have sustained Loaves and Fishes for years. They continue to sustain us now.
Together, we are feeding families, reducing waste, and strengthening our community.
Looking Ahead
As we move into 2026, we remain committed to:
- Expanding food recovery partnerships
- Increasing distribution capacity
- Improving storage and transportation infrastructure
- Supporting volunteers with better tools and training
- Ensuring every person who comes to us receives nutritious food and compassionate care
Ocean Beach Emergency Food, Inc. (dba Loaves and Fishes) is a 501 (c)3 non-profit in good standing with the State of California and the IRS. Financial statements and/or tax returns are available upon request.