Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF), was founded in 1998 by Alan Graham along with four friends to provide meals to the homeless. Meals were served out of a minivan until the help of a formerly homeless man, Houston Flake, helped perfect the process

Mobile Loaves & Fishes is Founded

Inspiration for MLF at St. Thomas More

In 2001, a Christ Renews His Parish retreat at St. Thomas More inspired four men to join Graham’s mission to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. Scott Walsh, Frank Kelly, Rich Chiappe and Jeff Larson met with Fr. Elmer, pastor of St. Thomas More, and planning began to form Mobile Loaves & Fishes at St. Thomas More.

MLF Becomes a Ministry

In 2002, the group visited St. John Neumann Catholic Church to see the operation and met with Alan Graham. Mobile Loaves & Fishes at St. Thomas More was officially launched, with arrangements to use the St. John Neumann truck. Plans quickly began to transform the back of the Fisher House for the ministry:

  • A kitchen was added to the back of the house for sandwich preparation and to allow easy access to load the truck.

  • The garage was turned into a commissary to stock dry goods for truck runs.

  • Additional renovations were done to the back shed to include a clothes closet for volunteers to take gently used clothing to the homeless.

A Truck & Enthusiastic Volunteers

A volunteer fair was held after each mass to form Make Ready and Truck teams. So many parishioners showed up, the positions were filled quickly and some volunteers were put on waitlists. The first truck run went out in the fall of 2003.

At the end of 2003, a generous benefactor donated a truck to the ministry, and St. Thomas More had their own truck. What is unique about the ministry at St. Thomas More is that each team is named after a saint.

MLF Summer Camp is Founded

2010 saw the launch of MLF Summer Camp. The goal of the camp is to inspire youths to serve others in need. Activities and service projects at camp help the youth understand and act on the needs in their community and the world.

Dedicated Service to our Community

Through the years, MLF at St. Thomas More has touched the lives of many volunteers through meal preparation, truck runs and special events. Make Ready teams prepare meals and the truck each day. Truck teams go out daily to deliver meals to those in need. Various events are held throughout the year to engage our volunteers. As one of the largest ministries at St. Thomas More, we are blessed to have so many volunteers to help spread the gospel and feed the poor.