Everyday Miracles is a new, ongoing feature where we celebrate the little miracles that happen at Mobile Loaves & Fishes. To share your story and have it included here on the website, please email amanda@mlf.org
- Will Kern is a college student that just moved here with his family from California. Because he had a semester away from college and wanted to get involved in his new town, he began coming into the commissary Monday through Friday for at least five hours to help us with anything we asked through the whole fall semester. His help was invaluable through the holiday season and we wish him the best of luck at Franciscan University.
- Caroline Johnson’s wish for her 11th birthday was for her friends to bring money to donate to Mobile Loaves and Fishes. She looked past the superficial items many children request and made sure those less fortunate than she could have something instead. She graciously brought us $360.00 in proceeds from her birthday!
- Gary Persinger won a $2500 award from his employer, HEB, and donated it to Mobile Loaves and Fishes.
- Steve and Mary Rodman donated many new toys to us at Christmas this year. We were able to have them wrapped and put on the trucks to be delivered to the less fortunate throughout Austin on Christmas Day that otherwise may not have had a single package to unwrap.
- Temple Beth Shalom held their annual “Knitzvah Project” which provided us with hundreds of handmade scarves and hats to put on our catering trucks.
- The Junior League of Austin provided us with almost 1000 coats through their Coats for Kids program. These coats allowed as many adults and children in need the opportunity to stay warm throughout the winter. For many, this program is their only option to stay warm.
- Mobile Loaves and Fishes partnered with St. Mary’s Catholic Church to provide lunch for 150 people at the MLK Day of Wellness held at their location. Clothing, food and friendship were shared by all on that cold, dismal afternoon.
- Zip Realty was kind in giving us a large donation of new socks and blankets to disperse on our catering trucks. Socks and blankets are imperative in our colder months to the survival of the homeless. Hypothermia is rampant and lives are lost on the street every year due to it. Many believe that the homeless can “just go to a shelter”. What many don’t realize is that Austin is several thousand beds short of sheltering the homeless even when extra beds are made available on inclement weather nights.
- St. Gabriel’s School has been making a monthly donation of survival packs to Mobile Loaves and Fishes. At Christmas, they also donated survival kits for the homeless animals that included treats and hand-written notes for them to take extra care of their owners. The homeless animals provide a great amount of love and companionship for the homeless while also giving them a purpose. Oftentimes, they are fed before their owners think of themselves and behave better than “domesticated” animals. A large majority get their shots and are spayed or neutered by local non-profits, such as the Animal Trustees of Austin, who understand the importance of having companionship and ensure they are healthy at the same time.
