CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – There was murder in the air Saturday night in Clarksville. A sold-out crowd enjoyed Loaves & Fishes dinner theater fundraiser, Murder in the Air, at the Riverview Inn. The play had a 1940s theme and many guests even dressed for the occasion.
The event was also part of a birthday party with the organization celebrating 36 years of serving meals to the hungry and those in need in Clarksville-Montgomery County. Loaves & Fishes is moving forward with its capital campaign, New Move-New Vision, for their new facility.
It was announced Saturday that there has been an increase in the funds needed to build the proposed 14,000 square foot building going up on Crossland Avenue near Martin St. Much of that expense has come from site preparation which is currently underway.
The original cost estimate of $1.5 million has risen to $1.8 million. So far the organization has raised more than $1.4 million with the building scheduled to arrive sometime later this month and be ready to serve meals and offer other services to those in need early in 2021.
Plans for the facility include a dining hall which will seat 250 people, a community gathering space, a large commercial kitchen, a food storage warehouse, and offices. Loaves & Fishes Board Chairperson, Tamara Long, described the facility as an open concept building.
“It can be changed out to many different things, not just feeding people. You could do things like warming shelters, cooling stations. You can bring in groups that could do counseling, health assessment, and those kind of things,” said Long.
Loaves & Fishes presently serves close to 50,000 hot meals each year, six days a week, Blessing bags containing food are distributed on Sundays at 215 Foster St. in the Activities and Outreach Center of First Presbyterian Church. The organization also distributes food to around 30 churches and agencies who in turn provide food for those who are food insecure in the community.
For more on the work of Loaves & Fishes visit loaveseandfishescampaign.org or call 931-645-2020.