Nonprofits

News

Bread of Life perseveres with its mission in spite of challenges

March 26, 2020 Anne D'Urso-Rose 2
By Anne D’Urso-Rose The line snaked in fits and starts along a path outside the First Baptist Church of Malden. Those waiting for their free meals from Bread of Life were practicing social distancing with unequal measurements of separation. “I’ve been coming for many years,” said Govan, a Bread of Life meal patron, as he waited in good spirits. “These people are wonderful. We’d all be lost without them.” Life is challenging for Malden residents these days but for those with the least amount of resources, the situation has hit harder. To address the need, dedicated staff and volunteers on the front lines continue to serve the city’s most vulnerable residents with commitment and resourcefulness. “Since last week, the numbers seemed to be going up,” said John Robillard, the Meals Program Assistant for Bread of Life. “Today (Tuesday) we have 75 meals, where normally we make about 50.” “People have to eat,” said Gabriella Snyder Stelmack, Executive Director of the Bread of Life, in a recent interview with Neighborhood View. “We’ve had to make changes […]
News

Bread of Life nearly halfway funded to reconstruct Eastern Ave. headquarters

April 2, 2019 ditikohli 2
Story by Diti Kohli Bread of Life Malden, an organization dedicated to preventing food insecurity, effectively raised $1.4 million, or nearly 50 percent, of the required funding to reconstruct its headquarters at 54 Eastern Ave. as of March 19. Some basic services, including a food pantry, are already run out of the acquired building.  Executive director Gabriella Snyder Stelmack and development director Patty Kelly informed the City Council of the organization’s progress and mission at the March 19 council meeting. The $2.9 million funding estimate for reconstruction includes the remaining loan payment on the Eastern Avenue building. The 501c3 non-profit bought the property for $750,000 in 2014 using monies from philanthropy efforts. Bread of Life’s actions to open its own headquarters follow a long history of occupying temporary meal sites. “We lost our meal site several times,” said Stelmack resignedly. “Different times we’ve been serving out of our van or truck in a parking lot. And a lot of those [past] facilities, almost all of them, have had really outdated equipment and kitchens.” In addition […]
News

Homeless find refuge in Malden Warming Center

February 18, 2019 ditikohli 6
Story and photos by Diti Kohli Age 54, diabetic, and newly homeless, Rosa spent her first night in the Malden Warming Center on a frigid February evening. In late January, she lost her job as a live-in evening manager of a disabled veterans care facility that gave her only two weeks to vacate her home. Rosa does not receive unemployment benefits from her non-profit ex-employer. She survives off food stamps and has only procured enough insulin to last another month. Without the center, she would be spending her nights on the street. “I’ve always said if people are homeless, there has to be a reason they’re there,” said Rosa. “This is my reason.” According to a report from the Department of Housing and Development, Rosa is among the estimated 20,000 homeless individuals in Massachusetts. Citizens and officials in Malden, alarmed at the number of homeless in the city, have worked together to open a warming center, a place where the homeless can find respite from the winter. The center opened for the winter on Jan. […]
Food

Bread of Life moves to Malden’s American Legion

June 2, 2016 neighbormedia 1
Bread of Life’s Wednesday and Thursday free evening meals will be served at the American Legion Post 69, located at 368 Pleasant Street in Malden, as of June 1, 2016. Bread of Life and the American Legion Post 69 have formed a partnership enabling both organizations to further their missions by assisting individuals and families in the Malden area. The meal is open to anyone in need, including families with children, working people, senior citizens, unemployed or disabled people. No reservation is required. You do not need to live in Malden to attend. On Tuesdays, take-out meals will be served at Bread of Life, 54 Eastern Ave. and on Fridays the First Baptist Church, 493 Main St. in Malden, will host from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. American Legion 368 Pleasant Street, Malden Thursdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. American Legion 368 Pleasant Street, Malden
Food

Donor organizations honor Malden’s non-profit Bread of Life

October 29, 2015 Anne D'Urso-Rose 0
Community Cooks of Somerville held a “Just for You” event at the Charlesgate Yacht Club in Cambridge to celebrate their most loyal donors and partner organizations. Community Cooks coordinates a network of over 780 volunteers from 61 Boston-area cities and towns, who offer free home cooked meals to vulnerable citizens by supporting 35 direct-service partner agencies. Malden-based Bread of Life is one of their direct-service partner organizations that receive monthly distributions. It was in response to the impressive work by Bread of Life to feed the hungry and homeless in the metro-north area that brought them to the attention of Community Cooks.  Based in Malden, Bread of Life is a faith-based organization that offers: Free evening meals Tuesday through Friday in Malden. Food pantries in Malden and Everett. Grocery distribution to seniors in Malden, Everett, Melrose, Medford and Wakefield public housing. Food distribution to homeless families temporarily sheltered in local motels. Mobile outreach to homeless and clothing ministry. Bread of Life, represented by Executive Director Thomas Feagley and Board Member Kathleen McKenna, addressed the attendees at […]