Mobile Loaves & Fishes, the Westbank-based social outreach ministry that provides food, clothing and friendship to the homeless and working poor, is about to kick off the holidays in the right spirit.

Alan Graham founded the nonprofit organization in 1998 as a ministry of St. John Neumann Catholic Church. Graham said MLF will be part of the Austin Homeless Resource Fair Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Cantu/Pan American Recreation Center, 2100 East 3rd St. The Homeless Resource Fair is a one day event linking people who are homeless to agencies and resources that can assist them.

The fair is held to connect the estimated 4,500 homeless individuals and families in the Austin/Travis County area with as many resources as possible and provide assistance with medical services, referrals to social service agencies, benefits enrollment, legal assistance, food, sleeping bags, clothing and more.

The MLF annual Thanksgiving dinner will be held this year on Nov. 25 at Caritas, 611 Neches St. Last year, MLF served more than 400 meals to Austin’s needy at an average cost to the organization of $3 per meal. The annual Christmas feast will be held on Dec. 21 at the First Baptist Church, 901 Trinity St. To volunteer to donate to or assist with any of these MLF activities, contact the organization by telephone at 328-7299 or e-mail Graham at alan@mlfnow.org.

Graham said that volunteers and donations of food and clothing are essential to what MLF does every day. But, he said what the organization needs most is money.

“Everybody has been hit by this economy, and we’re no different,” he said. “People who donate just $10 a month could really help stabilize our cash flow. I’d rather have a thousand $10 angels than one $100,000 angel.

Graham also encouraged area residents to be thinking ahead into the holiday season on ways to donate to the MLF Santa List.

“Something as simple as a grocery store gift card, a book, board game or a bus pass has the capacity to brighten somebody’s Christmas,” he said. “Not only can you and your family contribute these items, but you can also rally your book club, Bible study, co-workers or neighborhood friends together to bring in some wonderful gifts for our brothers and sisters in need.”

The most popular requests for the Santa List include grocery store gift cards, pre-paid food cards from fast-food restaurants, Wal-Mart gift certificates, gift certificates for phone calls and bus passes.

To find out more about the MLF Santa List program, visit the organization’s Web site at mlfnow.org.