Bread Of Life
Holiday Newsletter 
2009 

Dear Friend,     
 
Just when we think things can't get worse...According to the US Department of Agriculture 11% of our neighbors and friends experienced "food insecurity" in 2007.  Bad news.  Today, it is 14.5%.  Worse news.  We certainly do hope things improve, soon.
 
The Holidays always add a layer of stress, even for those who are comfortable. For those who regularly experience the stresses of trying to make ends meet, these times are trying.  Bread of Life strives to meet the ever-growing demands for emergency food relief.  We rely heavily on the Greater Boston Food Bank. They recently have had shortages, and our shelves have been starkly bare. 
 
At the same time, BoL has been taking on extra work:  we deliver meals and other foods to 100+ homeless families displaced into 3 area motels.  We make monthly deliveries to 260 "at risk elders". Our 18-months-old pantry in Everett distributes emergency food to more than 150 families and individuals.  All of this on top of the BoL pantry in Malden and the free evening meals, Tuesday-Friday. BoL recently distributed more than 430 turkeys to area families. We served 300 at the annual Thanksgiving meal, hosted by Malden HS; delivered meals to more than 400 shut-ins; and served a full turkey-n-fixings meal to 100+ homeless motel families. 
 
At the same time that needs have kept growing, acts of generosity and charity have grown. The larger donors have been forced to make less cash available, and while the number of individual donors has increased, their donations have, of necessity, been smaller...while requests for emergency food relief grow. 
 



 To meet these demands, Bread of Life:
 
             * Formalized outreach to the 100+ families displaced into area  motels.    
          * Cooked meals and other foods are delivered every week to three motels.
             *  Is preparing to expand the Elder Nutrition Outreach program to 6 more sites.
            * Is in search of a building to rent or purchase, to consolidate programming.
 
We are grateful to all who have offered support, in whatever form, to Bread of Life.  The good works that are done by hundreds of volunteers help to relieve some of the distress felt by so many of our neighbors and friends.  Even the seemingly smallest gift can be of immense help to someone in need.  Your thoughts and prayers are important to us, and to those we strive to help:
 
�         When our outreach worker, Diana, was at one of the motels delivering food to the homeless families there, a young single mother came out with her 15-month-old daughter. She had just been placed at the motel that week and had no idea where to get food or find services. Diana gave her a hot meal to take back to her room. A while later she returned. With tears in her eyes, she thanked Diana, saying, "It's been such a long time since we had a home-cooked meal."
 
  �         A BoL volunteer was riding on public transportation and struck up a conversation with the driver. Hearing that the volunteer was going to Bread of Life, the driver said, "What a wonderful organization that is. I was between jobs, out of work, and I couldn't have made it without them."
 
It is our hope that this Holiday Season is a beautiful and bountiful time for you and for your family and friends.  As we light our candles and make our wishes, we have faith that, with so many working together, we will soon walk in the light together.  Your tax-deductible gift can be the difference in a neighbor's life!  Please send your donation to Bread of Life, 511 Main Street, Malden, MA  02148 or call us at 781-397-0404.  Thank you for your gift!
 
Peace & Love, etc.,
 
Tom Feagley
Executive Director
 
 



Did you know...?
 
♦ From January - October 2009 Bread of Life served 17,873 individuals in 9,361 households through our Malden and Everett Food Pantries, grocery delivery to seniors in public housing, and food delivery to homeless families in motels.
 
♦ Our evening meal cooks up 34,000 meals a year and serves about 75 people a night, Tuesday through Friday. The meals are made possible by volunteers and donated food and funds from our 35 partner churches, synagogues, high schools, civic and religious organizations.
 
♦ We deliver cooked meals and groceries, plus baby food, clothing and toiletries, to about 65 homeless families sheltered in three local motels. This expansion of our motel delivery program began October 1st and is funded for one year by federal stimulus funds through Tri-City Community Action Program.
 
♦ We provided Thanksgiving turkeys for about 400 needy families. With the Malden Mayor's Office, Lions Club, Salemwood School Staff, Malden Knights of Columbus, Forestdale Church, Anthony's Caterers and Marty's Caterers, we provided about 350 meals at our  "Don't Be Alone on Thanksgiving" dinner, delivered about 400 meals to elderly shut-ins, and served the meal at the motels for the homeless families.
 
♦ Many community organizations & businesses hold food drives and donate funds for our pantry, such as  Malden Access TV, Pope John High School in Everett, DSM/Delta Dental Plan, St. Joseph's CCD in Malden.
 
♦ We serve Christmas Day dinner, open to all, from noon-2 pm at St. Paul's Parish, 26 Washington Street in Malden, in conjunction with Project Ezra and volunteers from Temple Tifereth Israel and Congregation Agudas Achim-Ezrath Israel, both of Malden. Every dinner guest receives a gift of a cold-weather clothing item.
 
♦ Giving Back, the Bread of Life cable TV show, hosted by Mike Cherone and produced by Brian Biggie at Malden Access TV, can be seen on your local cable channel in Malden, Melrose, Wakefield, and online at: www.givingbacktvshow.blogspot.com.
 
♦ We're on Facebook - type in "Bread of Life" to search for our page.

Check out pictures from the 2009 Walk for Bread
Here
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